World Health Organization Issues Concern Over Severe Scarcity of Obesity Medications
Under one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected scenario, the supply of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The advice encourages governments and firms to expand availability, through approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence suggests users may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the medication, when their normal appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
