Less than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it releases its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, by measures such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so users eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests people may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, when their normal hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
