Fewer than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase availability, through strategies including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research points to users may see weight return after a year of stopping the drug, as their usual appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
