WHO Issues Concern Over Severe Scarcity of Weight-Loss Injections

Under a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its initial recommendations on the therapies.

With more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.

Based on forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Even under the present most favorable scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.

The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen availability, by approaches like patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Drugs Work

These medications imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.

People usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.

Research indicates users may see weight return after a year of stopping the medication, as their normal hunger return.

Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for contracting health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.

Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.