Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, via measures like patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Patients typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their typical appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
