🔗 Share this article World Health Organization Issues Warning Over Severe Lack of Weight-Loss Jabs Less than 10% of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its initial guidance on the therapies. With more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments. Per estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken. "The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift significant weight, says the agency. GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization. The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by strategies such as patent sharing. Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026. How Obesity Jabs Work GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake. Patients commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs. Studies suggests users may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, as their typical hunger return. Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies. Excess weight affects people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
Less than 10% of people eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its initial guidance on the therapies. With more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments. Per estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken. "The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can help people shift significant weight, says the agency. GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the health organization. The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, by strategies such as patent sharing. Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026. How Obesity Jabs Work GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake. Patients commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs. Studies suggests users may see weight return a year later of stopping the treatment, as their typical hunger return. Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies. Excess weight affects people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.