WHO Raises Alert Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections

Less than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.

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

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

"Our latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift considerable body mass, notes the body.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Even in the present best projected outlook, the supply of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.

The advice urges countries and companies to widen availability, via approaches like patent sharing.

A patent on semaglutide – the core component of a leading brand – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Jabs Work

These medications imitate a body's own hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and enhance satiety so individuals reduce food intake.

Individuals commonly start to lose weight after several weeks of commencing the regular doses.

Evidence indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the treatment, when their typical hunger resume.

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

Obesity affects people in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.