Less than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it issues its first guidance on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to increase access, through approaches such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the drug, because their normal food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
