The Global Health Body Issues Concern Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Medications

Less than 10% of people who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.

With over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.

Per forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the body.

GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity

Despite the present most favorable case, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.

The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand access, through strategies such as patent sharing.

A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Operate

GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost satiety so people eat less.

People usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.

Research indicates people may see weight return a year later of halting the treatment, as their normal hunger resume.

To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.

Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.