The Global Health Body Raises Alert Over Acute Scarcity of Obesity Injections

Under a tenth of people that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it releases its initial advice on the medications.

With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for increased and just availability to GLP-1 medication.

Per estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to universal access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the agency.

GLP-1 Therapy Shortage

Even in the present most optimistic case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.

The advice encourages nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through strategies including voluntary licensing.

A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.

How Obesity Injections Function

These medications replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so users eat less.

People commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence suggests people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the drug, because their normal food cravings come back.

To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.

Obesity concerns individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.