WHO Issues Alert Over Critical Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications

Under a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it releases its initial guidance on the medications.

With over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.

Per estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the production of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.

The advice urges governments and firms to expand access, by approaches such as voluntary licensing.

A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function

The injections mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.

Individuals usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.

Studies suggests users may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the medication, as their normal hunger come back.

Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.

Excess weight affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.