Fewer than 10% of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its first guidance on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the current most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to expand access, via measures like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance satiety so people eat less.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the drug, when their typical hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
