The Global Health Body Raises Alert Over Severe Lack of Obesity Medications

Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it releases its first guidance on the medications.

With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.

Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and continuous care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Even in the present most favorable scenario, the production of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.

The recommendation calls on governments and firms to increase availability, through approaches including licensing agreements.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Injections Operate

The injections imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.

Patients typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.

Research indicates people may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, because their usual food cravings return.

To be above a healthy weight elevates your chance for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.

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