WHO Raises Alert Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications

Less than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the medications.

Given over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just availability to this class of drugs.

Based on projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to universal availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the body.

Skinny Jab Supply Crisis

Despite the current best projected outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.

The guideline urges governments and firms to widen availability, through measures like voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Injections Work

The injections mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so users reduce food intake.

People typically start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Research points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, because their typical appetite resume.

Being overweight or obese raises your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.

Obesity impacts people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.