World Health Organization Raises Alert Over Acute Lack of Weight-Loss Medications

Fewer than 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first advice on the therapies.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.

Per forecasts, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our new guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to universal availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the organization.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Despite the current most favorable case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.

The advice calls on governments and firms to increase access, by measures including licensing agreements.

Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Drugs Function

GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so users reduce food intake.

People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, as their usual food cravings resume.

Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.

Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.