World Health Organization Sounds Warning Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Jabs

Less than a tenth of individuals that would benefit from obesity jabs like Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its first guidance on the medications.

With over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.

Per estimates, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing support," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to broad access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing substantial body mass, says the organization.

Weight-Loss Drug Shortage

Despite the current most favorable outlook, the supply of these medications could only cover around 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.

The recommendation calls on countries and companies to increase availability, through strategies like patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Injections Operate

The injections mimick a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and increase satiety so users consume fewer calories.

Patients typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion within a year of stopping the treatment, when their usual appetite come back.

Being carrying excess weight elevates your risk for developing medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.

Obesity affects individuals in every country and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.