World Health Organization Raises Warning Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications

Fewer than 10% of people who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural guidance on the drugs.

With over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.

Per projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, notes the organization.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Even in the current best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.

The guideline encourages governments and firms to widen access, via measures like voluntary licensing.

A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Work

GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.

People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, because their typical appetite come back.

Being overweight or obese increases your risk for developing health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.

Obesity affects people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.