iStockWeight loss drugs, such as Mounjaro, have been recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for use in treating obesity under certain conditions.
Health experts say obesity was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide last year, and the number of people with obesity is projected to double by 2030.
Popular weight loss jabs such as Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic are all GLP-1 medicines, which help people feel fuller by mimicking a natural hormone released after eating.
Mounjaro also acts on a second hormone involved in appetite and blood sugar control.
In the UK, several licensed GLP-1 medicines, including Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, have been assessed by the medicines regulator.
The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved them as safe and effective for certain uses, but not in cases when they are used for weight loss in people who are not obese or overweight.
Weight loss jabs are ‘transformational’ but come with health issues
One GP in Scotland told STV News earlier this year that the “skinny jabs” are “transformational” in terms of weight loss.
Dr Becky Howie, GP and Lifestyle Medicine Doctor, said: “It is the first drug I have ever had in my 20-year career that does seem to work.”
However, the criteria to get referred to services for weight loss drugs are “strict”.
“The referrals we do get rejections more often than not, even though they appear to fit the criteria,” Dr Howie said.
“I have not seen in real life people getting the prescription through the NHS. Most people are getting it privately.”
The drugs have been helping thousands of people at risk of poor health due to obesity to lose huge amounts of weight rapidly.
Common side effects such as nausea and headaches are well documented and users are provided with guidance about what to do if they experience them.
But dramatic weight loss can also result in sagging or loose skin. Those who want the excess skin to be removed can face issues.
The procedure is not routinely provided by the NHS, with treatment only provided on an exceptional case basis in line with the “Exceptional Referral Protocol”.
The rules state that patients should only be referred following a clinical assessment where there is a symptomatic or functional issue amenable to treatment.
All cases are judged against agreed criteria on an individual basis, and referral does not necessarily mean that treatment will be offered.
Fewer than one in ten able to get weight loss jabs
Fewer than one in ten obese people who would benefit from weight loss drugs are able to access them, according to projections by the World Health Organisation.
The organisation estimates that “even under the current highest projected scenario” the production of weight loss drugs “could only cover around 100 million people”.
It said: “While significant, this number represents less than 10% of people currently living with obesity.”
WHO estimates that there are currently more than one billion obese people globally, with the figure expected to rise to two billion by 2030.
WHO says weight loss drugs are ‘new chapter’ in obesity fight
In September 2025, the WHO added GLP-1 therapies to its essential medicines list for managing type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups.
With the new guidelines, experts have now issued conditional recommendations for using them to support people living with obesity in overcoming serious health challenges.
They say it is part of a comprehensive approach that includes healthy diets, regular physical activity, and support from health professionals.
The medicines should not be used by pregnant women for the long-term treatment of obesity.
The WHO also said there is limited access to the drugs, with fewer than one in ten people who could benefit from them able to get them.
They say a rise in demand has meant that falsified and substandard products have been spread, which threatens patient safety and trust.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “Obesity is a major global health challenge that WHO is committed to addressing by supporting countries and people worldwide to control it, effectively and equitably.
“Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care.
“While medication alone won’t solve this global health crisis, GLP-1 therapies can help millions overcome obesity and reduce its associated harms.”
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