World Health Organization Issues Warning Over Severe Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications

Under 10% of patients who could benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the medications.

With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to GLP-1 medication.

According to forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"Our latest guidelines affirms that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be managed with thorough and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift considerable body mass, explains the organization.

Skinny Jab Supply Crisis

Even under the current best projected outlook, the production of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.

The advice calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, through approaches such as voluntary licensing.

A patent on a key compound – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Jabs Function

GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.

Patients usually start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the weekly injections.

Research points to people may see weight return after a year of discontinuing the medication, because their normal food cravings return.

To be above a healthy weight raises your risk for contracting health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.

Obesity affects individuals in all nations and was linked to millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.