Less than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to increase access, through measures such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Research indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, because their usual food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
