Fewer than one in 10 patients who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift significant body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen access, through approaches like voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
The injections mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to people may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the medication, because their normal food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for developing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
