World Health Organization Raises Warning Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications
Under a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial guidance on the drugs.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
According to projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and ongoing treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to widen availability, via strategies like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates patients may see weight return within a year of halting the medication, as their normal appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight affects people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
