Fewer than one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its initial recommendations on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to expand availability, through measures like licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research points to people may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their usual food cravings return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
