World Health Organization Sounds Alert Over Severe Scarcity of Obesity Jabs

Less than one in 10 patients who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the WHO as it publishes its initial guidance on the medications.

Considering over a billion individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to these injectable treatments.

Per projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be managed with thorough and ongoing treatment," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Substantial prices, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are major hurdles to widespread availability to the jabs that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, says the body.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Even under the current best projected case, the supply of such drugs could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.

The advice urges nations and manufacturers to widen availability, via measures like licensing agreements.

The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Injections Function

These medications replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness so people reduce food intake.

Individuals commonly see weight reduction in the initial weeks of commencing the weekly injections.

Studies suggests people may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their usual appetite resume.

Being above a healthy weight increases your chance for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.

Excess weight affects individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.