Under 10% of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the present most favorable case, the supply of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to increase availability, via approaches such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research suggests patients may see weight return a year later of stopping the drug, as their normal hunger return.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.