The Global Health Body Issues Alert Over Severe Scarcity of Weight-Loss Injections

Under 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the therapies.

Considering over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.

According to projections, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and ongoing care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, notes the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Even under the present most favorable case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.

The guideline urges countries and companies to expand availability, through measures such as licensing agreements.

A patent on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Injections Operate

These medications imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.

Patients commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the weekly injections.

Studies indicates users may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, as their typical hunger resume.

Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.

Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.