World Health Organization Issues Warning Over Critical Scarcity of Obesity Medications

Fewer than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.

With more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.

Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Even in the current most favorable case, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.

The recommendation urges countries and companies to widen access, through measures like voluntary licensing.

A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.

The Way Obesity Jabs Work

The injections replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.

Individuals commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.

Research points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the medication, because their usual hunger return.

To be overweight or obese increases your likelihood for experiencing health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.

Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.