Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and continuous support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the current best projected case, the production of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to widen availability, via measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
The injections mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research indicates people may see weight return after a year of halting the drug, because their typical food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
