Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first recommendations on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable case, the supply of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to widen availability, by approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research indicates users may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, as their typical hunger resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for developing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
