Under one in 10 individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable case, the supply of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand access, via measures including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the treatment, because their normal appetite return.
To be carrying excess weight raises your chance for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
