WHO Issues Warning Over Critical Scarcity of Weight-Loss Jabs

Under one in 10 individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.

Given more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.

According to estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.

The advice calls on countries and companies to increase availability, by approaches including patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.

How Obesity Drugs Operate

These medications replicate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so users eat less.

People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Research indicates users may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the drug, because their typical hunger come back.

Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.

Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.