The Global Health Body Raises Concern Over Critical Scarcity of Weight-Loss Medications

Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its initial advice on the therapies.

Given over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.

Per estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Even in the current best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.

The guideline urges countries and companies to expand access, via approaches like voluntary licensing.

A patent on the active ingredient – the core component of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate

GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.

People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.

Evidence points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, because their usual food cravings resume.

To be overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.

Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.