The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning over a severe global shortage of effective weight loss medications, projecting that the number of people living with obesity could double by 2030 if urgent action is not taken.
Barriers to Access and a Growing Crisis
In its first global guidance on the drugs, the WHO revealed that fewer than one in ten people who could medically benefit from so-called 'weight loss jabs' are currently able to access them. This critical shortfall is driven by prohibitively high costs and widespread supply chain issues.
The organisation highlighted that more than a billion people worldwide are already living with obesity, a chronic disease that significantly raises the risk of cardiovascular illness, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The economic toll is also colossal, with the global cost predicted to hit US $3 trillion annually by 2030.
GLP-1 Agonists: From Diabetes to Essential Obesity Care
The guidance focuses on GLP-1 agonist medications, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro. These drugs work by lowering blood sugar, slowing digestion, and reducing appetite. In a significant move last September, the WHO added this class of medication to its Model List of Essential Medicines for managing type 2 diabetes in high-risk patients.
The new guidelines go further, recommending that these drugs be used as a long-term treatment strategy for obesity, alongside a healthy diet and regular physical activity. "Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," stated Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Call for Fair Pricing and Combating Fakes
The WHO is calling on nations and pharmaceutical companies to implement strategies like tiered pricing and voluntary licensing to dramatically improve access. Voluntary licensing allows a patent holder to permit other manufacturers to produce more affordable, non-branded versions of a drug.
The situation in the UK illustrates the problem: the price of the drug Mounjaro recently increased by 170 per cent to align with higher prices in other countries. Even with rapid production expansion, GLP-1 drugs are forecast to reach fewer than 10% of those who need them by the end of the decade.
Explosive demand has also fuelled a dangerous market for counterfeit and substandard products, posing a direct threat to patient safety. The WHO stressed that regulated distribution, prescription by qualified healthcare providers, and thorough patient education are vital to protect public health.
"While medication alone won’t solve this global health crisis," Dr Tedros added, "GLP-1 therapies can help millions overcome obesity and reduce its associated harms." The body urges immediate, coordinated action to prevent the projected doubling of obesity cases within the next six years.
