The Global Health Body Issues Concern Over Critical Shortage of Weight-Loss Jabs

Less than 10% of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.

Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.

Based on forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Even under the current most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.

The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase access, through measures like patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

How Obesity Drugs Work

The injections imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people eat less.

Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.

Research points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the drug, as their typical food cravings return.

Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.

Obesity concerns people in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.