The Global Health Body Raises Warning Over Critical Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections
Fewer than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through strategies like licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Studies suggests people may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the medication, when their usual hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight concerns individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.