WHO Raises Warning Over Severe Lack of Obesity Injections

Fewer than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it issues its first advice on the medications.

Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to this class of drugs.

Per projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our latest guidance affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be managed with thorough and continuous care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are significant hurdles to widespread availability to the treatments that can help people shift significant body mass, says the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity

Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the production of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.

The advice urges countries and companies to widen availability, by strategies including patent sharing.

Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Jabs Work

GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.

Individuals usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Studies suggests patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, because their normal appetite come back.

Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain cancers.

Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.