Fewer than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected outlook, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to widen access, via measures like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their normal food cravings resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
