Fewer than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to widen availability, through approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
These medications mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Individuals usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, when their normal food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your chance for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
