The Global Health Body Issues Warning Over Severe Shortage of Obesity Medications

Fewer than 10% of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the drugs.

With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.

According to estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and ongoing care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, notes the body.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Even in the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.

The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via approaches like patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Drugs Function

GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.

Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.

Studies indicates users may see weight return within a year of stopping the drug, as their normal appetite resume.

Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.

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