The Global Health Body Issues Concern Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Injections
Under one in 10 individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its inaugural guidance on the therapies.
With over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"Our new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and continuous treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad availability to the injections that can help people shift significant body mass, says the agency.
Skinny Jab Shortage
Even under the present most favorable scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.
The recommendation urges countries and companies to widen access, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications replicate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
People usually start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research points to users may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the medication, because their normal hunger come back.
To be overweight or obese raises your chance for contracting diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.
