WHO Issues Concern Over Severe Scarcity of Weight-Loss Medications
Fewer than a tenth of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it releases its first guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to increase availability, by strategies including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals eat less.
Individuals typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may see weight return within a year of halting the medication, when their usual hunger come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
