Fewer than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
With over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and ongoing support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the production of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand availability, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence suggests patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, because their typical appetite come back.
To be carrying excess weight increases your risk for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
