WHO Issues Alert Over Severe Lack of Obesity Injections
Under one in 10 people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, warns the World Health Organization as it publishes its first advice on the drugs.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and continuous care," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even in the present most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to widen access, via measures like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost satiety so people reduce food intake.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies points to users may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the treatment, as their usual hunger resume.
Being above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.