Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its inaugural guidance on the medications.
With over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase access, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost satiety so people reduce food intake.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies indicates people may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the drug, because their typical hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your chance for contracting diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
