WHO Sounds Alert Over Severe Scarcity of Weight-Loss Medications

Less than 10% of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its inaugural advice on the drugs.

Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.

Per estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant weight, says the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.

The guideline urges countries and companies to increase availability, via strategies like licensing agreements.

The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Drugs Function

GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so individuals eat less.

Individuals usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Studies points to users may regain a significant portion a year later of halting the drug, as their usual hunger resume.

Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.

Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.

Teresa Spears
Teresa Spears

Helena Voss is a financial strategist and author with over 15 years of experience in wealth management.