The Global Health Body Raises Alert Over Severe Shortage of Obesity Medications

Less than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its first advice on the therapies.

Given over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.

Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, explains the organization.

GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis

Despite the present best projected outlook, the production of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.

The guideline calls on countries and companies to increase access, through measures including licensing agreements.

A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.

How Obesity Drugs Function

The injections imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so people eat less.

Individuals usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence indicates users may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the medication, when their normal food cravings return.

To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.

Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.