The Global Health Body Sounds Warning Over Critical Shortage of Obesity Jabs

Less than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the drugs.

Given over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.

Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our new guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and continuous support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

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

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.

The advice calls on countries and companies to widen access, by measures like patent sharing.

A patent on semaglutide – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Injections Function

These medications imitate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so users eat less.

Patients commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.

Evidence indicates people may see weight return after a year of halting the medication, as their usual hunger come back.

To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.

Excess weight concerns people in all nations and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.