The Global Health Body Raises Alert Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Jabs

Fewer than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its first advice on the therapies.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.

Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, explains the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Even under the present most favorable outlook, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the health organization.

The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, via approaches such as voluntary licensing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.

The Way Obesity Drugs Operate

These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and enhance satiety so individuals eat less.

Individuals commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.

Evidence indicates users may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the drug, because their normal appetite return.

To be carrying excess weight elevates your risk for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.

Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.