World Health Organization Issues Warning Over Severe Scarcity of Obesity Injections

Less than 10% of patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the global health agency as it publishes its first recommendations on the medications.

With over a billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to GLP-1 medication.

According to projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The new guidance recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with holistic and continuous care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to broad access to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the organization.

Skinny Jab Supply Crisis

Despite the current best projected scenario, the manufacturing of such drugs could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.

The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to expand access, through strategies like voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.

The Way Obesity Drugs Work

The injections replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.

Individuals commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence suggests patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, when their normal food cravings return.

Being carrying excess weight raises your chance for contracting health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.

Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.