WHO Sounds Warning Over Acute Lack of Obesity Jabs
Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first advice on the therapies.
Given more than one billion individuals worldwide currently living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention.
"Our latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with thorough and continuous care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant weight, notes the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Even in the present most favorable case, the manufacturing of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The guideline encourages nations and manufacturers to widen availability, through approaches like licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Work
The injections replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the once-weekly jabs.
Research indicates people may put most of the weight back on after a year of discontinuing the medication, when their normal hunger resume.
Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for experiencing diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight affects people in every country and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
