WHO Issues Warning Over Critical Scarcity of Obesity Injections
Under 10% of people that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
With over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.
Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Even under the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand access, via measures including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Function
The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests users may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the treatment, as their typical hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese increases your chance for experiencing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.
