Fewer than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its first guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to increase access, via approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
Patients usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research suggests patients may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the treatment, because their normal food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
