Under a tenth of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current best projected outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand availability, via strategies such as voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, as their normal hunger come back.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your chance for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
