Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current most favorable case, the supply of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The advice calls on governments and firms to expand availability, by strategies such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests people may see weight return after a year of halting the medication, as their typical food cravings resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
