WHO Raises Concern Over Severe Shortage of Obesity Medications

Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its first recommendations on the drugs.

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

Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and lifelong care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Even under the present best projected case, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.

The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, through approaches like licensing agreements.

A patent on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Work

These medications replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.

People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.

Research indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the treatment, when their normal appetite resume.

To be overweight or obese increases your chance for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.

Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.