Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and lifelong care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through measures like licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
These medications imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research indicates users may see weight return within a year of stopping the medication, when their usual food cravings return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
