WHO Raises Warning Over Critical Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections

Less than 10% of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial recommendations on the drugs.

Given over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.

According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Even in the present most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.

The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to increase access, by measures such as voluntary licensing.

A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Operate

The injections replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.

Patients commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Evidence points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, as their normal hunger return.

To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for developing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.

Obesity affects people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.