Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to increase access, by measures such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so people eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests people may see weight return within a year of stopping the treatment, because their typical food cravings come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your risk for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
