WHO Sounds Alert Over Acute Lack of Obesity Medications
Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected scenario, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The advice urges countries and companies to expand availability, by strategies such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
These medications imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies suggests people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
