World Health Organization Raises Warning Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Jabs

Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its first recommendations on the therapies.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.

Per estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Even under the current most optimistic case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.

The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to widen access, by measures like patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Jabs Work

GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users eat less.

Patients usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Studies indicates people may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical hunger come back.

To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.

Obesity affects people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.