The Global Health Body Raises Concern Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Medications

Fewer than 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it publishes its initial guidance on the drugs.

Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.

Per estimates, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift considerable body mass, notes the body.

Skinny Jab Supply Crisis

Even in the current most favorable outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.

The recommendation urges countries and companies to widen access, through strategies including licensing agreements.

A patent on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Function

These medications mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so users eat less.

Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Studies suggests people may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, when their normal hunger come back.

Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.

Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.