WHO Issues Warning Over Critical Lack of Obesity Injections

Fewer than one in 10 individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy are able to get them, states the global health agency as it issues its initial recommendations on the drugs.

Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.

Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing support," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to universal availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, notes the agency.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Even under the present best projected scenario, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the WHO.

The advice urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via strategies like voluntary licensing.

A patent on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work

The injections replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so users reduce food intake.

Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.

Studies indicates users may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, because their usual hunger return.

Being overweight or obese increases your chance for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.

Excess weight affects people in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.