The Global Health Body Issues Warning Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Injections
Less than 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it issues its initial guidance on the drugs.
Given more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, over two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with holistic and continuous support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to universal availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.
The guideline urges governments and firms to expand availability, by measures such as voluntary licensing.
Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies suggests users may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the medication, when their normal food cravings come back.
Being above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
