The Global Health Body Raises Concern Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Medications

Fewer than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the drugs.

With over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.

Per projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Even in the current most favorable scenario, the production of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.

The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by approaches like patent sharing.

Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

How Obesity Injections Work

GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.

Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.

Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the drug, because their typical hunger return.

To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.

Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.