WHO Sounds Concern Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Medications

Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the drugs.

With over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.

Per projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and continuous treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Even in the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.

The advice calls on countries and companies to increase access, by measures such as voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.

How Obesity Drugs Operate

GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.

People typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.

Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, as their usual food cravings come back.

Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.

Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.