WHO Issues Alert Over Critical Shortage of Obesity Injections

Fewer than 10% of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its first guidance on the medications.

Given over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.

Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, explains the body.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Even in the current most favorable scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.

The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase availability, by measures like licensing agreements.

Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Drugs Work

The injections mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users eat less.

People commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Research indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the treatment, as their normal hunger come back.

To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for developing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.

Excess weight impacts people in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.