Fewer than 10% of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its initial advice on the medications.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the production of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to widen access, via approaches like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
These medications imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates users may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, when their normal appetite return.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
