Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and ongoing treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the present best projected scenario, the production of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand availability, through approaches like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual appetite come back.
To be above a healthy weight raises your chance for contracting health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
