Fewer than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its first guidance on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present best projected case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via strategies such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Operate
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research suggests patients may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the treatment, as their normal appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
