Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and lifelong treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable case, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice encourages governments and firms to increase availability, by approaches including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their normal appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
