🔗 Share this article WHO Sounds Alert Over Acute Lack of Obesity Medications Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies. Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments. Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention. "Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the body. Weight-Loss Drug Shortage Even under the present most favorable scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO. The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen access, via approaches including licensing agreements. A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026. The Way Obesity Injections Function The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so people eat less. People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections. Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, as their usual hunger come back. Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for developing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies. Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies. Considering more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments. Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention. "Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the body. Weight-Loss Drug Shortage Even under the present most favorable scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO. The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen access, via approaches including licensing agreements. A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026. The Way Obesity Injections Function The injections mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so people eat less. People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections. Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the treatment, as their usual hunger come back. Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for developing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies. Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.