The Global Health Body Issues Warning Over Acute Lack of Obesity Jabs

Fewer than 10% of individuals who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.

Considering more than one billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.

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

"The latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and continuous support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, says the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis

Even under the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.

The guideline encourages governments and firms to widen access, through strategies like voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.

The Way Obesity Jabs Work

GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.

Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Research indicates patients may see weight return after a year of halting the treatment, because their normal appetite resume.

Being above a healthy weight elevates your chance for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.

Obesity affects people in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.