Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it issues its first guidance on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the present most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand access, via measures including voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Patients commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, because their normal appetite resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
