Under one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its first recommendations on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the present best projected scenario, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through measures such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
These medications replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost satiety so people eat less.
Patients typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research points to users may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, because their usual food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
