Less than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected outlook, the supply of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase access, via measures like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Patients commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to users may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, as their normal food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese increases your risk for developing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
