Less than one in 10 people that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to widen access, through measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the medication, as their usual food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for developing diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
