Under a tenth of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current best projected case, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges governments and firms to increase access, through strategies like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies indicates users may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the medication, when their typical appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
