Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and continuous support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to increase availability, by measures like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates users may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their normal food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
