Fewer than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural advice on the medications.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to widen availability, via approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to users may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the medication, because their usual hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
