Fewer than 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via approaches such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies points to patients may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, when their typical food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
