The Global Health Body Raises Warning Over Acute Lack of Obesity Injections

Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, warns the WHO as it releases its first advice on the drugs.

Given over a billion individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.

Per forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and lifelong treatment," stated the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can help people shift substantial body mass, explains the agency.

Skinny Jab Supply Crisis

Despite the current most favorable outlook, the production of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.

The advice calls on governments and firms to widen availability, through measures including patent sharing.

A patent on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in several nations in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function

The injections replicate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase satiety so users reduce food intake.

Individuals typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the regular doses.

Studies indicates people may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the treatment, when their normal hunger resume.

To be overweight or obese raises your risk for contracting health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.

Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.