The Global Health Body Issues Warning Over Critical Shortage of Obesity Jabs
Under a tenth of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and continuous care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the present most favorable case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand access, via approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.
Patients commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the treatment, when their usual hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for contracting diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
