Fewer than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it releases its first recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via approaches like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
These medications imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to patients may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, when their usual hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.