World Health Organization Issues Warning Over Critical Scarcity of Weight-Loss Medications
Fewer than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current most favorable scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to increase availability, through measures including patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users eat less.
People usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, as their normal appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
