Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on countries and companies to increase access, by strategies such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
These medications mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost satiety so individuals eat less.
Patients commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence indicates users may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, when their normal appetite resume.
To be carrying excess weight increases your risk for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
