Fewer than one in 10 people that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most favorable outlook, the supply of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase access, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, because their normal hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
