Fewer than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its first recommendations on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, explains the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to increase availability, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so users eat less.
People usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence points to patients may see weight return within a year of stopping the drug, because their usual appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your chance for contracting health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
