Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the present most favorable outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to expand availability, via measures like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
People usually see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the drug, as their typical food cravings resume.
To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
