WHO Issues Warning Over Critical Scarcity of Weight-Loss Jabs

Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it issues its initial guidance on the therapies.

With over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.

Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, notes the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Even in the present most optimistic case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.

The recommendation urges countries and companies to expand access, via strategies like patent sharing.

A patent on semaglutide – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

How Obesity Injections Operate

The injections imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals consume fewer calories.

Patients typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence indicates patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, because their normal food cravings resume.

Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.

Excess weight concerns people in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.