Under one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its initial guidance on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to universal access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to expand access, via strategies like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research indicates patients may see weight return after a year of stopping the medication, when their usual hunger resume.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your chance for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity impacts people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
