Under one in 10 patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it releases its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The advice calls on countries and companies to expand access, by strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence points to patients may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the medication, when their usual hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
