World Health Organization Raises Alert Over Severe Scarcity of Obesity Jabs

Fewer than 10% of people eligible to benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it releases its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.

Given over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for increased and just access to this class of drugs.

According to estimates, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The latest guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive and continuous support," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are key obstacles to widespread availability to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, says the body.

Skinny Jab Supply Crisis

Even in the current most favorable case, the production of these medications could only cover about 100 million people – under 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.

The advice urges countries and companies to expand access, via measures like patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.

How Obesity Drugs Operate

The injections replicate a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so people consume fewer calories.

Individuals typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.

Research suggests users may see weight return within a year of halting the treatment, when their usual appetite return.

Being above a healthy weight raises your chance for contracting diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.

Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.