Under a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by measures like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
These medications replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
People commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests people may see weight return after a year of stopping the drug, when their typical food cravings resume.
To be overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
