World Health Organization Raises Concern Over Critical Lack of Weight-Loss Medications

Less than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.

Considering over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.

According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Even in the present best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the WHO.

The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by strategies like patent sharing.

A patent on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Drugs Function

These medications replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.

People commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.

Studies indicates people may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the treatment, as their typical food cravings resume.

Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.

Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.