The Global Health Body Raises Alert Over Critical Scarcity of Obesity Injections

Under one in 10 people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it issues its initial advice on the drugs.

Given over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to this class of drugs.

Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift considerable weight, says the organization.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Even in the present most optimistic case, the production of such drugs could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.

The advice calls on governments and firms to expand access, through measures like patent sharing.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function

The injections mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and enhance satiety so individuals eat less.

People usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.

Studies suggests people may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their typical food cravings return.

Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for developing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some malignancies.

Excess weight affects people in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.