The Global Health Body Raises Warning Over Severe Shortage of Obesity Jabs
Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and lifelong treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread availability to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The advice urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, through approaches such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Patients typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to patients may see weight return a year later of stopping the drug, when their typical food cravings resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Excess weight concerns people in every country and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
