The Global Health Body Raises Alert Over Acute Lack of Obesity Medications

Fewer than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.

Considering over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.

According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, says the agency.

Skinny Jab Supply Crisis

Even in the present most optimistic case, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.

The recommendation urges governments and firms to increase access, via strategies including licensing agreements.

Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate

The injections imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so individuals eat less.

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

Studies points to people may see weight return after a year of stopping the treatment, as their normal appetite resume.

Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for contracting health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.

Obesity impacts people in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.