Fewer than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to widen availability, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so users eat less.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the medication, because their normal hunger return.
Being overweight or obese raises your chance for contracting health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
