Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its initial recommendations on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through measures such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Operate
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the treatment, when their usual appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for experiencing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
