Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its initial advice on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and ongoing support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current best projected outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen availability, through approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests patients may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their usual hunger resume.
To be overweight or obese increases your likelihood for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
