🔗 Share this article WHO Raises Concern Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Jabs Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its first guidance on the drugs. Considering over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments. According to projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken. "The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the agency. Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity Even in the current best projected case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization. The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand availability, through approaches such as patent sharing. Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026. The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories. Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses. Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, when their usual food cravings come back. To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers. Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its first guidance on the drugs. Considering over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments. According to projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken. "The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the agency. Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity Even in the current best projected case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization. The recommendation urges governments and firms to expand availability, through approaches such as patent sharing. Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026. The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories. Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses. Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, when their usual food cravings come back. To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers. Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.