Fewer than 10% of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
According to estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand access, through approaches like licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users eat less.
Patients typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical food cravings return.
To be carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
