WHO Issues Concern Over Severe Scarcity of Obesity Medications

Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.

With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.

Per forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the body.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Despite the current most optimistic case, the production of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.

The guideline urges countries and companies to widen availability, via approaches including voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Injections Function

These medications mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.

Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Research suggests patients may see weight return a year later of halting the drug, as their usual food cravings come back.

To be overweight or obese raises your chance for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.

Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.