The Global Health Body Issues Concern Over Acute Lack of Weight-Loss Jabs

Less than one in 10 patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it issues its first advice on the medications.

With over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.

Based on forecasts, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key barriers to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the agency.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Even under the present most favorable outlook, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.

The guideline encourages governments and firms to widen availability, by approaches like patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the primary component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Drugs Function

These medications imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.

People typically see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.

Studies points to people may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the medication, as their typical hunger come back.

To be carrying excess weight elevates your risk for experiencing health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.

Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.