WHO Sounds Alert Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Jabs

Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its first advice on the drugs.

With over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.

Per estimates, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and lifelong support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to broad availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, notes the organization.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Even in the current most optimistic outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.

The guideline urges governments and firms to widen availability, by measures including patent sharing.

Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work

These medications mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.

Individuals usually start to lose weight after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Research suggests patients may see weight return within a year of discontinuing the drug, when their normal appetite come back.

Being carrying excess weight raises your risk for contracting diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers.

Excess weight affects individuals in every country and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.