The Global Health Body Issues Alert Over Severe Scarcity of Obesity Jabs

Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the therapies.

Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.

Based on forecasts, more than two billion are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread access to the injections that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the agency.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Despite the current most optimistic case, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, as stated by the WHO.

The advice encourages governments and firms to expand access, by approaches such as licensing agreements.

A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Jabs Function

GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users reduce food intake.

Patients typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.

Research indicates patients may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their normal food cravings come back.

Being above a healthy weight raises your likelihood for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.

Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.