The Global Health Body Sounds Concern Over Critical Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections

Fewer than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, states the WHO as it issues its initial advice on the medications.

Given more than one billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.

Based on projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and continuous treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the organization.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Even in the current best projected case, the manufacturing of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.

The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand availability, via measures such as patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Work

GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.

Individuals commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Studies points to users may see weight return within a year of halting the medication, when their normal hunger resume.

Being overweight or obese raises your risk for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.

Obesity impacts people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.