Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The advice urges governments and firms to increase availability, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost satiety so people eat less.
People commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, as their typical food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
