WHO Sounds Concern Over Acute Lack of Obesity Injections
Under 10% of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural advice on the medications.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice calls on countries and companies to increase access, through measures like patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
Patients typically see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, as their usual appetite return.
To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.