Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its first advice on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and lifelong support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to increase availability, by approaches such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, as their usual appetite return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for developing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
