Under a tenth of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The advice urges countries and companies to widen availability, via approaches such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users eat less.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their usual food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
