World Health Organization Raises Alert Over Critical Shortage of Weight-Loss Injections

Less than 10% of people who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy are able to get them, warns the WHO as it issues its first guidance on the medications.

Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just access to this class of drugs.

According to estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing treatment," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, says the body.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Even under the current best projected case, the supply of such drugs might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.

The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through strategies such as licensing agreements.

A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Work

The injections mimick a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.

Individuals typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence suggests users may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, because their typical appetite return.

To be above a healthy weight elevates your chance for experiencing health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.

Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.