World Health Organization Sounds Concern Over Severe Lack of Obesity Medications

Fewer than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the medications.

Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.

Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Despite the current best projected scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.

The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through measures like patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.

The Way Obesity Injections Function

These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.

Individuals typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Studies indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the drug, when their usual appetite return.

To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.

Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.