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

Less than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial advice on the drugs.

With over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.

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

"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant hurdles to widespread access to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, explains the organization.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Even in the present best projected case, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the WHO.

The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand availability, through approaches including voluntary licensing.

A patent on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.

The Way Obesity Injections Operate

These medications mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users eat less.

People commonly start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.

Research points to patients may see weight return after a year of halting the drug, when their usual hunger resume.

To be above a healthy weight elevates your likelihood for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain malignancies.

Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.