World Health Organization Issues Alert Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications
Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its inaugural advice on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.
The advice calls on countries and companies to increase access, through approaches including voluntary licensing.
A patent on a key compound – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so users eat less.
People typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence points to people may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the treatment, because their normal hunger return.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for contracting health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
