World Health Organization Raises Warning Over Critical Lack of Obesity Jabs
Less than a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Despite the current best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.
The advice urges governments and firms to increase access, by approaches such as patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
The injections mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
People typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence points to users may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical appetite resume.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
