The Global Health Body Sounds Concern Over Acute Lack of Obesity Jabs

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

Considering more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.

Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to widespread availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant body mass, notes the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Even under the current most favorable outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.

The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand access, through approaches such as licensing agreements.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Injections Function

The injections replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.

Patients usually start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Research indicates people may put most of the weight back on within a year of discontinuing the medication, as their usual hunger resume.

To be overweight or obese increases your likelihood for experiencing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.

Excess weight impacts people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.