The Global Health Body Sounds Alert Over Critical Lack of Weight-Loss Jabs

Fewer than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the drugs.

With over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.

According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and continuous support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal access to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, notes the agency.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Even under the current best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.

The recommendation calls on countries and companies to widen access, via measures including patent sharing.

A patent on semaglutide – the main component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Jabs Work

GLP-1 drugs mimick a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so users reduce food intake.

Individuals typically see weight reduction within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.

Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the treatment, because their normal food cravings resume.

To be overweight or obese raises your likelihood for developing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific malignancies.

Obesity affects individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.