World Health Organization Raises Alert Over Severe Shortage of Obesity Injections
Fewer than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it releases its inaugural advice on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and lifelong care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are major obstacles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, notes the body.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the current most favorable case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation calls on governments and firms to increase access, by strategies including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase satiety so individuals eat less.
Patients commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the drug, as their usual food cravings resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for experiencing health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity affects people in all nations and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.