The Global Health Body Sounds Concern Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications

Under 10% of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first recommendations on the medications.

Considering over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.

According to forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and continuous support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the organization.

GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis

Even in the present most favorable case, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.

The guideline urges governments and firms to increase availability, via strategies including licensing agreements.

A patent on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Jabs Function

The injections mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.

Patients commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence suggests patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their normal hunger resume.

Being above a healthy weight elevates your chance for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.

Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.