Under one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural advice on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the current best projected case, the supply of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to expand availability, via strategies including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Research indicates patients may see weight return a year later of halting the medication, when their normal hunger resume.
To be carrying excess weight increases your risk for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
