The Global Health Body Sounds Warning Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Jabs
Less than a tenth of patients eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.
Based on projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous care," remarked the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the current best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to expand access, by approaches like voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Injections Work
The injections imitate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost satiety so users consume fewer calories.
Individuals usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.
Evidence points to patients may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, when their normal hunger resume.
To be overweight or obese elevates your risk for developing diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain 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.