Less than 10% of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural advice on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current most favorable scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to widen access, via approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the medication, when their usual food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese increases your risk for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
