WHO Sounds Alert Over Severe Lack of Obesity Injections

Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural advice on the medications.

Given over a billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.

Per estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our new guidelines affirms that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and continuous treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant weight, explains the organization.

GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis

Even in the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.

The guideline encourages governments and firms to increase availability, through measures like licensing agreements.

Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.

The Way Obesity Drugs Work

The injections imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.

People usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Research points to patients may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the treatment, when their usual appetite return.

Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.

Excess weight concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.