The Global Health Body Raises Warning Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Medications
Under a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first advice on the medications.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by measures like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Work
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.
Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates users may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, as their usual hunger return.
To be overweight or obese increases your risk for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
