Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable scenario, the production of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to increase availability, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Operate
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, as their usual appetite return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
