WHO Raises Warning Over Severe Lack of Weight-Loss Injections

Less than one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.

With over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.

Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, says the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Even in the present most favorable scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.

The advice urges countries and companies to widen access, by approaches including licensing agreements.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Drugs Work

GLP-1 drugs replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals reduce food intake.

People usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Studies suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the drug, as their typical food cravings return.

Being carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.

Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.