The Global Health Body Issues Concern Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications
Under one in 10 patients who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its first guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to widen availability, through approaches like licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Patients typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies suggests patients may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the treatment, when their typical food cravings resume.
Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
