The Global Health Body Raises Concern Over Acute Lack of Weight-Loss Medications
Fewer than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people ā less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on countries and companies to widen availability, by approaches including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide ā the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy ā is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Studies indicates people may see weight return a year later of stopping the medication, when their usual appetite return.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
