WHO Issues Alert Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Jabs

Under a tenth of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural advice on the therapies.

Given over a billion people worldwide currently obese, it is calling for increased and just access to this class of drugs.

According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"Our new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with holistic and ongoing support," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant barriers to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the organization.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Even in the current best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.

The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through approaches including patent sharing.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the main component of a leading brand – is due to expire in multiple nations in 2026.

The Way Obesity Drugs Work

GLP-1 drugs imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.

People commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Studies points to users may see weight return within a year of halting the drug, when their typical appetite return.

Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.

Obesity affects people in all nations and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.