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

Under a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it issues its inaugural guidance on the medications.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.

Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and continuous care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, says the organization.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Even under the present most favorable scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.

The recommendation calls on governments and firms to increase availability, via measures like patent sharing.

A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Jabs Work

GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so people eat less.

Patients typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Studies points to patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the drug, when their normal appetite come back.

Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.

Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.