The Global Health Body Raises Warning Over Severe Scarcity of Obesity Medications
Less than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its initial advice on the medications.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through measures such as voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the medication, as their typical appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
