Under 10% of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase availability, via approaches including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
People commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates people may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the medication, because their usual hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
