The Global Health Body Issues Warning Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Jabs
Under 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the therapies.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.
Per forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase availability, by measures such as patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates patients may see weight return after a year of stopping the drug, when their typical food cravings come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for developing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
