World Health Organization Sounds Alert Over Acute Scarcity of Obesity Medications

Fewer than a tenth of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the drugs.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.

Based on projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our latest guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Even in the present best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.

The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase access, via measures including voluntary licensing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Injections Operate

GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.

People usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Studies points to patients may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the treatment, because their typical food cravings come back.

Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.

Excess weight impacts people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.