The Global Health Body Issues Concern Over Severe Scarcity of Weight-Loss Jabs
Less than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it releases its inaugural advice on the medications.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable body mass, notes the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Shortage
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline urges countries and companies to widen availability, by approaches like licensing agreements.
A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Individuals typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the treatment, when their typical hunger return.
To be overweight or obese increases your risk for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies.
Excess weight impacts people in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
