WHO Issues Alert Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Injections

Less than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it releases its first guidance on the drugs.

Considering more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.

Per projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with holistic and ongoing support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, says the organization.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Even in the current most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.

The recommendation calls on governments and firms to increase access, through approaches like patent sharing.

A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of countries in 2026.

How Obesity Injections Operate

The injections imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost the sense of being full so users eat less.

Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Evidence suggests users may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their usual hunger come back.

Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain cancers.

Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.