World Health Organization Sounds Concern Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications
Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
With over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the present best projected scenario, the supply of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to widen availability, by approaches like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
These medications mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
People typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research suggests people may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the medication, as their normal appetite resume.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
