Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and ongoing support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by measures like patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
These medications imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may see weight return within a year of stopping the drug, when their typical hunger resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for developing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
