Less than 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its first guidance on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the current most optimistic outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase availability, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence suggests patients may see weight return after a year of stopping the medication, because their normal hunger come back.
To be carrying excess weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
