Under 10% of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to broad access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the current best projected case, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The advice encourages countries and companies to widen availability, through strategies such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Operate
The injections replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so people consume fewer calories.
People usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, as their usual food cravings come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
