Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it issues its first advice on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and continuous support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the current best projected case, the supply of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges countries and companies to increase availability, via strategies including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the medication, because their usual hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
