World Health Organization Raises Concern Over Acute Lack of Obesity Injections

Under one in 10 people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.

Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.

Based on estimates, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"Our latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, notes the organization.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Despite the present best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.

The guideline encourages countries and companies to expand access, via approaches like licensing agreements.

Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate

The injections mimick a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.

Individuals usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Studies indicates users may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the drug, because their typical appetite come back.

To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.

Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.