Less than 10% of patients that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it issues its first recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current best projected scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand access, through approaches including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so users eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests patients may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the drug, as their typical hunger resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
