Under 10% of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected case, the supply of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand availability, by measures such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Patients typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence points to users may see weight return a year later of halting the treatment, as their usual appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
