Under a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the production of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via approaches including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people eat less.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, because their typical hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
