World Health Organization Issues Alert Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections

Fewer than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.

Based on forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Even in the present most favorable outlook, the supply of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.

The advice urges governments and firms to expand availability, through strategies including licensing agreements.

A patent on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Function

GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.

Patients typically start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Studies indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their usual hunger resume.

To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.

Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.