WHO Sounds Warning Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Jabs
Less than one in 10 patients who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the production of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The advice encourages governments and firms to increase access, via approaches like voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
The injections replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users consume fewer calories.
Patients usually see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, when their usual appetite resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for developing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
