World Health Organization Sounds Warning Over Acute Lack of Obesity Medications

Under 10% of people who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.

With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.

Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Even under the present most optimistic case, the supply of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.

The advice encourages countries and companies to increase availability, by approaches including licensing agreements.

A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Drugs Work

GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost satiety so users reduce food intake.

People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Research points to patients may see weight return after a year of halting the medication, when their normal appetite come back.

To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.

Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.