WHO Sounds Alert Over Critical Shortage of Obesity Medications
Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected case, the production of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, via approaches including patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates users may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the medication, when their usual appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity affects people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
