World Health Organization Issues Concern Over Critical Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections

Fewer than one in 10 patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its initial guidance on the medications.

Given over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is urging increased and just access to these injectable treatments.

Per estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing support," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key barriers to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, explains the agency.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Even under the current most favorable scenario, the supply of such drugs might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.

The guideline urges governments and firms to expand availability, through measures like voluntary licensing.

Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Work

The injections imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.

Patients typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the drug, because their typical food cravings resume.

Being above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.

Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.