Fewer than a tenth of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it publishes its initial guidance on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand availability, by strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so users reduce food intake.
People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests users may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the treatment, as their normal food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
