Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to universal availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase access, by measures including patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests people may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the treatment, as their normal food cravings return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
