World Health Organization Issues Alert Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Jabs

Under a tenth of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its first recommendations on the medications.

Given more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.

Per estimates, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to widespread access to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, says the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Even in the present best projected scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the health organization.

The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, via measures including patent sharing.

A patent on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work

GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.

Individuals typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Studies suggests users may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the drug, when their typical appetite return.

To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.

Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.