The Global Health Body Issues Alert Over Acute Lack of Weight-Loss Medications

Fewer than one in 10 people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.

With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.

According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and lifelong treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, says the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Despite the current most optimistic case, the supply of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.

The guideline calls on countries and companies to increase availability, by approaches like patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Operate

These medications imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.

Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.

Studies suggests people may see weight return within a year of halting the medication, when their usual food cravings resume.

Being carrying excess weight raises your chance for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.

Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.