WHO Issues Concern Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections
Less than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and continuous treatment," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to broad access to the treatments that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Even under the present most optimistic case, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation calls on nations and manufacturers to widen access, by measures such as patent sharing.
A patent on the active ingredient – the primary component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
These medications replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase satiety so users reduce food intake.
People typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the medication, when their typical appetite come back.
Being above a healthy weight raises your risk for developing diseases, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
