WHO Issues Warning Over Acute Scarcity of Obesity Injections

Less than a tenth of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the medications.

Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.

According to forecasts, over two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and continuous support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to broad access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.

The advice urges countries and companies to increase access, by approaches including licensing agreements.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Drugs Work

These medications mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so users eat less.

Individuals typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.

Research points to patients may see weight return a year later of halting the treatment, as their usual hunger resume.

To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.

Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.