🔗 Share this article World Health Organization Raises Concern Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Jabs Less than 10% of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it releases its initial recommendations on the medications. Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication. According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken. "Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the organization. Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis Even under the present best projected case, the supply of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO. The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen access, through measures like licensing agreements. The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026. The Way Obesity Injections Operate GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake. Patients typically start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections. Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the medication, as their usual hunger come back. To be carrying excess weight increases your chance for contracting health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers. Excess weight concerns individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
Less than 10% of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it releases its initial recommendations on the medications. Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication. According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken. "Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the organization. Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis Even under the present best projected case, the supply of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO. The recommendation encourages countries and companies to widen access, through measures like licensing agreements. The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026. The Way Obesity Injections Operate GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake. Patients typically start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections. Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the medication, as their usual hunger come back. To be carrying excess weight increases your chance for contracting health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers. Excess weight concerns individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.