WHO Issues Concern Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Injections
Under 10% of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its initial guidance on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per estimates, over two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant obstacles to universal availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, explains the body.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Despite the current best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to increase availability, through measures including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.
Evidence suggests users may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the drug, because their typical hunger resume.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
