Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key barriers to broad access to the injections that can help people shift significant body mass, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable case, the supply of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to widen access, via strategies like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates users may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the drug, because their normal appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
