The Global Health Body Raises Warning Over Severe Lack of Weight-Loss Injections

Less than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the therapies.

Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is calling for increased and just availability to these injectable treatments.

Per forecasts, over two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and lifelong care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to broad availability to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial weight, explains the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Despite the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the WHO.

The recommendation calls on governments and firms to expand availability, by strategies such as licensing agreements.

Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Jabs Operate

The injections imitate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and boost the sense of being full so people eat less.

People usually see weight reduction after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.

Studies points to people may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the drug, as their usual food cravings return.

To be above a healthy weight increases your risk for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and certain malignancies.

Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.