The Global Health Body Raises Concern Over Severe Shortage of Obesity Medications

Fewer than 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural guidance on the therapies.

With more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.

According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the organization.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Despite the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.

The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase access, through measures such as licensing agreements.

Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate

These medications imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost satiety so users eat less.

Individuals commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.

Studies suggests users may see weight return a year later of halting the drug, because their usual hunger come back.

Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for contracting diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.

Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.