World Health Organization Sounds Alert Over Critical Lack of Obesity Jabs
Less than 10% of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to widespread availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Despite the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand availability, via approaches such as patent sharing.
A patent on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates users may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, because their typical hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
