World Health Organization Issues Alert Over Critical Lack of Obesity Jabs
Fewer than one in 10 patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the therapies.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and ongoing treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, says the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even in the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The advice urges countries and companies to widen availability, via measures like licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Drugs Operate
These medications replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so users reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies suggests users may see weight return a year later of stopping the drug, because their normal hunger come back.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
