Fewer than 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first advice on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to expand availability, by strategies including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
The injections mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the medication, as their usual food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your chance for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
