Fewer than a tenth of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the production of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to expand access, via approaches such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, as their normal hunger resume.
Being carrying excess weight raises your chance for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
