WHO Raises Concern Over Severe Lack of Obesity Medications

Under 10% of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it publishes its first guidance on the medications.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.

Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the agency.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Even in the current most optimistic case, the supply of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.

The guideline calls on countries and companies to expand availability, via strategies such as patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Work

GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users eat less.

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

Evidence indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their usual appetite return.

Being carrying excess weight raises your chance for developing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.

Excess weight concerns people in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.