WHO Raises Concern Over Severe Shortage of Obesity Jabs
Under a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to widespread access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, explains the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic outlook, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.
The guideline encourages governments and firms to expand availability, through approaches like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Individuals typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the treatment, as their typical hunger come back.
Being overweight or obese raises your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns people in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
