The Global Health Body Raises Concern Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications
Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its initial advice on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable outlook, the production of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through strategies including patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the treatment, when their typical appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
