Less than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present most favorable scenario, the supply of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand availability, by measures like voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so users eat less.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the treatment, when their normal food cravings return.
To be carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity affects people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
