Under 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to widen availability, through approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence suggests people may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, as their usual appetite come back.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
