Under 10% of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its first recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase access, through strategies like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people eat less.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, as their typical hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for developing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
