Fewer than 10% of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its first advice on the drugs.
Given over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and ongoing treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current best projected case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through approaches like patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
These medications replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase satiety so people eat less.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to users may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the treatment, when their usual hunger come back.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
