The Global Health Body Raises Warning Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections
Under 10% of patients who could benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its initial advice on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with holistic and continuous support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even under the current most optimistic outlook, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.
The advice encourages countries and companies to increase access, by strategies including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Operate
The injections imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates patients may see weight return within a year of stopping the treatment, because their normal appetite return.
To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
