Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to widen availability, through measures including patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research suggests people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, when their normal food cravings return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
