World Health Organization Issues Concern Over Critical Scarcity of Obesity Medications

Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.

Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.

Based on forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Even under the current most optimistic case, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.

The recommendation urges governments and firms to widen access, through measures such as licensing agreements.

A patent on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Work

The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.

People usually start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.

Studies points to patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the medication, as their normal food cravings resume.

To be overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for developing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.

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