The Global Health Body Sounds Warning Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications
Less than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural guidance on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by strategies like voluntary licensing.
A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Work
The injections imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so individuals eat less.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates users may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical food cravings come back.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
