Less than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to universal access to the injections that can help people shift considerable body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the present most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand access, by measures like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the treatment, as their usual appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
