World Health Organization Issues Warning Over Severe Lack of Weight-Loss Jabs

Fewer than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it releases its initial advice on the therapies.

Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to this class of drugs.

Based on estimates, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and continuous treatment," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, explains the body.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Even under the current best projected scenario, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, per the health organization.

The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to expand availability, through approaches including licensing agreements.

A patent on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Jabs Function

These medications imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost satiety so people eat less.

Patients typically see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.

Studies indicates people may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the drug, when their normal appetite come back.

To be overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain malignancies.

Excess weight impacts people in every country and was responsible for over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.