WHO Raises Concern Over Critical Scarcity of Weight-Loss Injections
Fewer than 10% of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and lifelong support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to expand access, via strategies including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
People commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, because their usual food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
