π Share this article WHO Sounds Concern Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Medications Under 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural guidance on the medications. With more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments. According to forecasts, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken. "Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the organization. GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis Despite the current best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people β less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization. The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via approaches such as patent sharing. A patent on a key compound β the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy β is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026. The Way Obesity Injections Work GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost satiety so people eat less. Individuals usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses. Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the medication, as their typical appetite resume. Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers. Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
Under 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural guidance on the medications. With more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments. According to forecasts, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken. "Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the organization. GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis Despite the current best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people β less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization. The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand availability, via approaches such as patent sharing. A patent on a key compound β the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy β is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026. The Way Obesity Injections Work GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost satiety so people eat less. Individuals usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses. Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the medication, as their typical appetite resume. Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers. Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.