The Global Health Body Raises Alert Over Critical Lack of Weight-Loss Medications

Under one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the therapies.

Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.

Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to widespread access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, explains the body.

GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis

Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.

The recommendation calls on governments and firms to widen availability, by measures such as patent sharing.

A patent on a key compound – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.

How Obesity Drugs Function

These medications imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.

Individuals usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, when their typical food cravings return.

Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.

Excess weight affects people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.