Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice calls on governments and firms to expand availability, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
These medications replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their typical hunger come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your chance for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
