Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable body mass, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present best projected outlook, the supply of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice calls on countries and companies to increase access, via approaches including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Individuals usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research suggests users may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your chance for developing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
