🔗 Share this article WHO Sounds Concern Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Medications Fewer than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the drugs. Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments. Per forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken. "The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the agency. GLP-1 Therapy Shortage Even under the present best projected case, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO. The advice urges governments and firms to widen access, through approaches such as patent sharing. A patent on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026. The Way Obesity Drugs Work The injections imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so users eat less. Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections. Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, as their typical appetite come back. Being overweight or obese increases your chance for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers. Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
Fewer than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the drugs. Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments. Per forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken. "The latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the agency. GLP-1 Therapy Shortage Even under the present best projected case, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO. The advice urges governments and firms to widen access, through approaches such as patent sharing. A patent on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026. The Way Obesity Drugs Work The injections imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so users eat less. Individuals typically start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections. Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, as their typical appetite come back. Being overweight or obese increases your chance for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers. Excess weight impacts individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.