WHO Issues Warning Over Critical Shortage of Weight-Loss Jabs
Under one in 10 individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the medications.
With more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift considerable weight, says the body.
Skinny Jab Scarcity
Even in the current best projected case, the production of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The recommendation calls on countries and companies to increase availability, via measures like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Work
These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.
Evidence suggests patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their normal appetite come back.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for experiencing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.
Obesity concerns people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
