🔗 Share this article The Global Health Body Issues Warning Over Severe Lack of Weight-Loss Jabs Under a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its first advice on the drugs. Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs. According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken. "Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, notes the body. GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO. The recommendation calls on countries and companies to widen availability, through measures like voluntary licensing. Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026. The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake. Patients usually start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs. Evidence suggests people may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their normal hunger return. To be carrying excess weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers. Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
Under a tenth of people that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its first advice on the drugs. Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs. According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken. "Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and lifelong support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, notes the body. GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO. The recommendation calls on countries and companies to widen availability, through measures like voluntary licensing. Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026. The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake. Patients usually start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs. Evidence suggests people may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their normal hunger return. To be carrying excess weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers. Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.