WHO Sounds Alert Over Severe Scarcity of Obesity Injections
Under one in 10 patients that would benefit from weight-loss injections such as Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its inaugural advice on the therapies.
Given more than one billion people worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
According to projections, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be managed with comprehensive and lifelong support," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to universal availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Despite the current most favorable case, the production of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, per the health organization.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase availability, through strategies such as licensing agreements.
A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in multiple nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Injections Function
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to delay gastric emptying, reduce hunger and increase the sense of being full so people reduce food intake.
People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Studies indicates people may put most of the weight back on a year later of stopping the medication, when their typical food cravings come back.
To be carrying excess weight raises your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.
Excess weight impacts people in countries worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
