World Health Organization Sounds Concern Over Acute Shortage of Weight-Loss Jabs

Less than a tenth of individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the therapies.

With over a billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.

According to estimates, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"The latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous care," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are key obstacles to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing considerable body mass, explains the body.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Even under the current best projected case, the supply of these medications would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.

The recommendation urges governments and firms to widen access, by approaches like patent sharing.

A patent on the active ingredient – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Jabs Function

The injections imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so users eat less.

People usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Research points to people may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, because their usual hunger come back.

Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some cancers.

Excess weight affects people in every country and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.