Less than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to expand availability, through measures like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
These medications imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, because their typical appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
