WHO Sounds Warning Over Critical Scarcity of Weight-Loss Injections

Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.

Given more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.

Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the organization.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Despite the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.

The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase access, via approaches like licensing agreements.

A patent on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.

How Obesity Injections Work

The injections imitate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.

Individuals commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.

Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their normal food cravings resume.

To be overweight or obese raises your risk for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.

Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.