World Health Organization Sounds Warning Over Critical Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections
Under a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its initial advice on the therapies.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the current most favorable case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to increase access, via strategies like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the drug, when their typical food cravings return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
