Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it releases its initial advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to increase access, via approaches such as licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the medication, because their usual hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
