WHO Issues Warning Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Jabs

Fewer than one in 10 patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.

Given more than one billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.

Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and continuous care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major hurdles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, says the organization.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Even in the current most favorable case, the production of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.

The guideline urges governments and firms to widen access, via measures such as patent sharing.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.

The Way Obesity Jabs Work

GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.

People usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of commencing the regular doses.

Research points to people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, because their usual appetite resume.

Being overweight or obese increases your risk for developing diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.

Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.