Under 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current best projected scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to expand access, through approaches like patent sharing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Work
The injections imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
Patients usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their typical food cravings resume.
To be overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
