The Global Health Body Sounds Alert Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Injections
Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its inaugural advice on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The advice urges governments and firms to increase availability, via strategies like patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients typically start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests patients may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, as their typical hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
