WHO Issues Warning Over Severe Lack of Obesity Injections
Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it issues its initial guidance on the drugs.
With over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even in the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The advice encourages countries and companies to widen availability, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests patients may see weight return after a year of stopping the drug, when their usual food cravings come back.
To be above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
