Fewer than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and continuous support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to broad access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the present best projected scenario, the production of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand access, by approaches such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their typical hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
