World Health Organization Issues Alert Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications

Fewer than one in 10 patients that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its initial recommendations on the therapies.

With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.

Based on estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the organization.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Despite the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.

The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase access, via measures including patent sharing.

Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.

How Obesity Injections Operate

These medications replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people eat less.

People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.

Research indicates users may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the drug, because their typical appetite resume.

To be carrying excess weight elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.

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