Under a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first advice on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and continuous care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the current most favorable case, the production of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to widen availability, through measures including voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
The injections replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests people may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, because their typical appetite come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
