WHO Raises Concern Over Acute Scarcity of Obesity Injections

Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.

Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.

Per forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, explains the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity

Despite the present most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.

The advice encourages governments and firms to widen availability, through strategies like voluntary licensing.

The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate

GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so individuals eat less.

Patients typically start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.

Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the drug, when their typical hunger come back.

Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.

Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.