Fewer than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and ongoing support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to widen availability, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Operate
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the treatment, as their typical food cravings return.
To be above a healthy weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
