The Global Health Body Raises Alert Over Acute Lack of Weight-Loss Jabs

Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.

According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and lifelong treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant barriers to universal access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, notes the organization.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Even under the present best projected case, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.

The advice urges governments and firms to expand access, by strategies including voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Operate

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

People usually begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence points to users may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the treatment, when their typical food cravings come back.

Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for contracting medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.

Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.