Fewer than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current best projected outlook, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
These medications mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, as their normal food cravings return.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your chance for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
