WHO Sounds Warning Over Severe Scarcity of Obesity Medications

Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.

Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.

According to projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Even in the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.

The advice calls on countries and companies to increase availability, by measures including licensing agreements.

The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.

The Way Obesity Drugs Operate

The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.

People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Research indicates patients may see weight return after a year of halting the drug, when their normal hunger return.

Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for experiencing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.

Obesity affects people in all nations and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.