The Global Health Body Issues Warning Over Critical Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections

Fewer than a tenth of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.

With over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.

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

"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the organization.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Despite the current best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.

The advice calls on countries and companies to increase availability, via measures like voluntary licensing.

The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

How Obesity Injections Function

The injections mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.

Individuals usually see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Evidence suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, because their usual food cravings return.

To be carrying excess weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.

Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.