WHO Raises Warning Over Acute Scarcity of Obesity Medications
Fewer than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its first advice on the medications.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to expand availability, through measures such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
The injections imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost satiety so users reduce food intake.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Research points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their typical appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
