The Global Health Body Raises Concern Over Critical Shortage of Obesity Medications

Less than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its initial recommendations on the therapies.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.

According to estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, explains the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis

Despite the present best projected case, the supply of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.

The advice urges countries and companies to expand availability, via measures such as voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate

The injections replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.

Individuals usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.

Evidence suggests people may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their typical hunger come back.

To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.

Excess weight affects people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.