Under 10% of patients who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural advice on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, by strategies like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence suggests patients may see weight return after a year of halting the medication, as their typical food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight increases your risk for contracting diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
