WHO Issues Concern Over Critical Scarcity of Obesity Medications
Less than one in 10 people that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the current best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand availability, through approaches like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
These medications imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Patients commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies indicates people may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the treatment, because their normal food cravings return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for contracting diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
