WHO Sounds Warning Over Critical Lack of Weight-Loss Medications

Under a tenth of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the medications.

Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.

Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.

The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase access, by measures such as patent sharing.

A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Work

These medications mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so people consume fewer calories.

Patients commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Studies suggests patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the treatment, because their normal food cravings resume.

To be above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.

Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.