Less than 10% of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to widen availability, through approaches such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users eat less.
Patients typically see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, because their usual appetite come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your chance for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
