WHO Issues Concern Over Severe Scarcity of Weight-Loss Jabs
Less than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
With more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even under the current best projected outlook, the production of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work
The injections replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to patients may regain a significant portion within a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their typical food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for developing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.