WHO Issues Warning Over Severe Scarcity of Weight-Loss Injections

Less than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the global health agency as it releases its inaugural guidance on the drugs.

With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.

According to forecasts, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and lifelong care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are major barriers to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, notes the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Even under the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.

The guideline encourages countries and companies to widen availability, by approaches including voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Work

These medications mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.

Individuals commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Evidence indicates users may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, when their normal food cravings come back.

To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for developing health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.

Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.