Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its first recommendations on the medications.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and continuous treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current best projected scenario, the production of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to expand availability, through approaches such as licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Operate
The injections replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their typical hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your chance for experiencing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
