Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through measures like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the medication, as their usual appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your chance for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
