Fewer than 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, via strategies such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
These medications replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research points to users may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their typical food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
