The Global Health Body Sounds Warning Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Medications

Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.

Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.

Based on estimates, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and continuous support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to widespread availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the body.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Even under the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.

The guideline urges nations and manufacturers to expand access, through measures such as voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function

GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so users eat less.

People commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.

Research suggests patients may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual appetite resume.

To be carrying excess weight raises your risk for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.

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