World Health Organization Sounds Warning Over Severe Scarcity of Weight-Loss Injections

Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.

Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.

Based on forecasts, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, says the organization.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Despite the present best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.

The recommendation urges countries and companies to increase access, via strategies like voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.

How Obesity Drugs Work

These medications mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.

People usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the treatment, as their typical hunger resume.

To be overweight or obese increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.

Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.