World Health Organization Sounds Concern Over Critical Shortage of Obesity Medications
Under a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and continuous support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected scenario, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, through approaches such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research points to users may see weight return within a year of halting the medication, because their usual food cravings resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
