WHO Issues Warning Over Acute Scarcity of Weight-Loss Jabs

Less than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial advice on the medications.

Given in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.

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

"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, explains the body.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Even in the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.

The recommendation calls on governments and firms to expand availability, through measures including voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Jabs Function

These medications mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.

People usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.

Research points to patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, because their typical food cravings return.

To be above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some malignancies.

Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.