Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The advice encourages governments and firms to expand access, via approaches like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the medication, as their normal appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
