The Global Health Body Sounds Alert Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications

Under 10% of patients who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it releases its first guidance on the medications.

Considering more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.

According to estimates, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.

The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through measures like patent sharing.

Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Drugs Work

These medications imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.

People usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.

Studies points to patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the drug, when their normal hunger come back.

To be carrying excess weight elevates your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.

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