Under one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it issues its first advice on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and lifelong support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, via strategies such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their normal food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
