π Share this article World Health Organization Sounds Concern Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications Fewer than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its first recommendations on the medications. Considering over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs. Based on projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention. "Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the agency. GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people β less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO. The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, via approaches like voluntary licensing. The intellectual property rights on semaglutide β the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy β is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026. The Way Obesity Drugs Operate These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people eat less. Patients commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses. Evidence indicates users may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their usual food cravings come back. Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies. Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
Fewer than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its first recommendations on the medications. Considering over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs. Based on projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention. "Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the agency. GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people β less than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO. The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, via approaches like voluntary licensing. The intellectual property rights on semaglutide β the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy β is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026. The Way Obesity Drugs Operate These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people eat less. Patients commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses. Evidence indicates users may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their usual food cravings come back. Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies. Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.