Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and ongoing care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the current most favorable outlook, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand availability, through approaches including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research points to patients may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their typical appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
