The Global Health Body Raises Warning Over Severe Scarcity of Weight-Loss Jabs

Under 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.

With more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.

Per projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and continuous care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, notes the body.

GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis

Even under the current most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.

The guideline urges governments and firms to increase availability, by strategies like voluntary licensing.

The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Work

These medications imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users reduce food intake.

People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.

Evidence points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the treatment, because their usual appetite resume.

To be carrying excess weight elevates your chance for contracting health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.

Obesity concerns people in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.