WHO Raises Alert Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications

Less than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it releases its initial advice on the drugs.

Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.

Based on estimates, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, explains the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Despite the present most optimistic scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.

The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen access, through approaches like voluntary licensing.

A patent on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Jabs Work

The injections imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.

Patients commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the medication, as their typical food cravings come back.

To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for developing health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.

Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.