Less than 10% of people who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the present most favorable case, the supply of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase availability, by strategies including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
These medications replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies suggests patients may see weight return within a year of stopping the medication, as their usual appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for contracting health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
