WHO Raises Warning Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Injections

Under 10% of people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to this class of drugs.

Based on projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our new guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the organization.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Even in the present best projected case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.

The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to expand access, via approaches like licensing agreements.

A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Injections Operate

GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users eat less.

Individuals usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Studies points to patients may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the medication, as their normal food cravings come back.

Being overweight or obese elevates your chance for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.

Excess weight affects individuals in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.