The Global Health Body Issues Warning Over Acute Scarcity of Obesity Injections
Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.
According to estimates, over two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, says the body.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the production of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand availability, via approaches such as licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
People commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the treatment, when their normal hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight increases your risk for contracting diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
