World Health Organization Issues Warning Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections

Less than one in 10 individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.

Per projections, over two billion will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Despite the current most favorable case, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.

The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to increase access, by strategies like licensing agreements.

The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Operate

These medications mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users consume fewer calories.

Individuals commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.

Research indicates patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the drug, because their usual appetite return.

To be above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for developing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.

Excess weight concerns individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.