Under 10% of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural advice on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through strategies including voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Function
These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
People usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the medication, as their usual hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
