WHO Raises Warning Over Severe Shortage of Obesity Medications

Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the therapies.

Given over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.

Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the organization.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Even in the current best projected outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.

The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by measures including patent sharing.

Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Drugs Operate

GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people eat less.

People usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.

Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their normal food cravings come back.

Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.

Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.