World Health Organization Raises Concern Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Medications

Fewer than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial guidance on the medications.

Given more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.

Per forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, says the organization.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Even in the current most favorable scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.

The guideline calls on countries and companies to increase availability, by measures such as patent sharing.

Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.

How Obesity Injections Operate

These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so individuals reduce food intake.

People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.

Evidence points to users may see weight return a year later of halting the treatment, when their typical appetite resume.

Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.

Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.