WHO Sounds Warning Over Critical Lack of Obesity Medications
Fewer than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the medications.
Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and continuous care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present most optimistic case, the production of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, via measures including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research points to users may see weight return a year later of stopping the drug, as their typical hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.