WHO Issues Concern Over Severe Scarcity of Obesity Injections
Fewer than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the present best projected scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen access, through measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so users reduce food intake.
Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.
Evidence indicates users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese increases your chance for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.