World Health Organization Sounds Concern Over Critical Shortage of Weight-Loss Medications

Under one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy can access them, warns the WHO as it releases its initial guidance on the drugs.

Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for more widespread and fairer availability to these injectable treatments.

Per projections, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 without intervention.

"Our new guidance acknowledges that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are major barriers to universal availability to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, explains the body.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Even in the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of such drugs would only suffice for around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.

The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through approaches such as patent sharing.

A patent on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several nations in 2026.

How Weight-Loss Injections Work

The injections imitate a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.

Patients usually see weight reduction in the initial weeks of beginning the weekly injections.

Studies indicates people may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, when their usual hunger resume.

To be above a healthy weight increases your likelihood for experiencing health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.

Obesity affects individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.