World Health Organization Raises Warning Over Critical Shortage of Obesity Jabs
Less than 10% of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it publishes its inaugural recommendations on the medications.
With over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to universal access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen access, through approaches including patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
These medications imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
People typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence points to patients may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the medication, because their normal food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for experiencing health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
