WHO Sounds Concern Over Severe Scarcity of Weight-Loss Medications
Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its inaugural advice on the medications.
With over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even in the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to widen access, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so users eat less.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to users may see weight return a year later of stopping the medication, as their normal appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.