The Global Health Body Raises Warning Over Critical Lack of Obesity Medications
Under a tenth of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial guidance on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the present most favorable case, the production of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via strategies including voluntary licensing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual hunger resume.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for contracting diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
