World Health Organization Raises Concern Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Injections

Less than 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the drugs.

Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.

According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.

The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through strategies including voluntary licensing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Injections Function

GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people eat less.

People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Research points to patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the drug, because their normal hunger come back.

To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.

Obesity affects people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.