Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and lifelong treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the current best projected scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through strategies like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
These medications mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, when their typical food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese raises your chance for developing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
