Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and lifelong care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present best projected case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.
People typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research suggests users may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
