Less than 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the current most favorable case, the production of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand access, through measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, because their typical appetite return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
