World Health Organization Issues Warning Over Critical Lack of Weight-Loss Injections

Fewer than 10% of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the medications.

With over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.

Based on projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with thorough and continuous treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Even under the current best projected case, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.

The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen access, through measures like voluntary licensing.

The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.

How Obesity Drugs Function

These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake.

Individuals usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.

Studies suggests people may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their usual food cravings come back.

Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for developing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.

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