The Global Health Body Raises Alert Over Critical Shortage of Obesity Medications

Less than a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the drugs.

With over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.

Per forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, notes the organization.

GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis

Despite the present most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.

The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand availability, by approaches such as voluntary licensing.

A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Work

These medications replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so people eat less.

People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, as their normal appetite resume.

Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.

Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.