Less than 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first guidance on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to widen access, via approaches including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, because their usual food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
