The Global Health Body Sounds Alert Over Severe Scarcity of Obesity Jabs

Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the drugs.

Considering over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just access to this class of drugs.

Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the body.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Even under the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.

The advice calls on governments and firms to expand access, by approaches including voluntary licensing.

A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.

How Obesity Drugs Function

These medications mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.

People commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.

Research indicates users may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their normal appetite return.

Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for contracting diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.

Excess weight affects people in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.