Less than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to widen access, via approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
The injections replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
Patients commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests users may see weight return a year later of halting the medication, because their typical appetite return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
