800 million adults now qualify for weight‑loss jabs worldwide

A global analysis estimates about 799 million adults meet clinical thresholds for prescription weight‑loss injections, based on surveys of more than 810,000 people across 99 countries. The World Health Organization is examining ways to broaden access while cost and supply remain barriers.

About 799 million adults worldwide meet clinical criteria for prescription weight‑loss injections, according to a large global analysis. The researchers used health survey data from over 810,000 adults across 99 countries, with surveys conducted between 2008 and 2021. Highest eligibility rates were reported in Europe, North America and parts of the Pacific Islands. The World Health Organization is reported to be exploring options for wider access, while cost and supply constraints persist. Key facts: - The estimate of about 799 million people comes from scaling survey results drawn from more than 810,000 adults in 99 countries (surveys from 2008–2021). - People were classed as eligible if they were clinically obese or significantly overweight with related health conditions; lower weight thresholds were used in some Asian settings because of health risks at lower body weight. - Eligibility tended to be higher among women and increased with age; Europe and North America showed the highest regional rates, with similar levels in parts of the Pacific Islands. - A separate review published in The British Medical Journal reported that weight often returns after stopping these medications and that metabolic improvements can fade within a period of years. Summary: The analysis suggests more than one in four adults globally now meet criteria for prescription of these injections, indicating a large scale of excess weight at population level. The World Health Organization is examining how to make treatments more widely available, but cost and supply are cited as obstacles. Questions about long‑term use and sustained benefit remain under active discussion.