Fewer than a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its first guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to increase access, through approaches such as licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so users eat less.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, as their normal food cravings resume.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
