Fewer than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present most favorable case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through strategies including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to users may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their normal appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for developing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
