Fewer than one in 10 people that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to widen availability, via measures including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies suggests people may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, as their usual food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
