Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to expand access, via measures such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
These medications replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase satiety so people reduce food intake.
People commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests patients may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, when their typical hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your chance for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
