The Global Health Body Raises Warning Over Acute Scarcity of Obesity Injections
Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its first guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by approaches like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research suggests patients may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the treatment, because their usual hunger resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
