The Global Health Body Raises Alert Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Jabs

Fewer than one in 10 patients that would benefit from obesity jabs including Wegovy have access to them, warns the global health agency as it releases its first recommendations on the therapies.

Considering over a billion people worldwide currently classified as obese, it is urging more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.

According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.

"The latest guidance affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with holistic and continuous support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to universal access to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, says the body.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Despite the current best projected case, the supply of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the health organization.

The guideline calls on governments and firms to widen access, through measures like patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work

GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and boost feelings of fullness so individuals reduce food intake.

Individuals usually begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the medication, when their usual hunger return.

Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood for developing health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific cancers.

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