WHO Sounds Alert Over Acute Scarcity of Obesity Medications

Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its initial recommendations on the therapies.

Given over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.

Based on forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, notes the body.

GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis

Even under the present best projected case, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.

The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, by approaches such as voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.

The Way Obesity Jabs Operate

These medications imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.

People usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.

Research points to people may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the medication, because their usual food cravings come back.

Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.

Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.