Less than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and continuous support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the current most favorable case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the medication, when their typical hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your risk for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
