🔗 Share this article World Health Organization Sounds Concern Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Medications Under one in 10 people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the medications. With over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs. According to projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken. "Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the organization. Weight-Loss Drug Shortage Despite the current best projected outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization. The recommendation calls on governments and firms to expand access, by approaches including patent sharing. A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026. How Obesity Injections Operate These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake. Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections. Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the treatment, as their usual appetite return. To be above a healthy weight elevates your chance for developing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers. Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
Under one in 10 people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the medications. With over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs. According to projections, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken. "Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the organization. Weight-Loss Drug Shortage Despite the current best projected outlook, the supply of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization. The recommendation calls on governments and firms to expand access, by approaches including patent sharing. A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026. How Obesity Injections Operate These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake. Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections. Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the treatment, as their usual appetite return. To be above a healthy weight elevates your chance for developing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers. Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.