Fewer than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to increase access, through approaches such as patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users eat less.
People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research points to users may see weight return a year later of stopping the drug, because their typical hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
