The Global Health Body Raises Warning Over Acute Shortage of Obesity Jabs

Fewer than a tenth of people who could benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy are able to get them, caution the WHO as it publishes its inaugural advice on the medications.

With over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is urging broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.

Per forecasts, more than two billion could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The latest guidelines recognises that excess weight is a chronic disease that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are significant obstacles to widespread access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing considerable weight, notes the body.

Skinny Jab Scarcity

Even in the current best projected outlook, the manufacturing of these medications would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of eligible patients, according to the WHO.

The guideline calls on governments and firms to expand access, by measures including patent sharing.

Exclusive production rights on a key compound – the primary component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in multiple countries in 2026.

How Obesity Jabs Operate

The injections imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and increase the sense of being full so users eat less.

Patients typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of commencing the regular doses.

Evidence suggests patients may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, as their normal hunger resume.

Being carrying excess weight increases your likelihood for experiencing health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.

Obesity affects people in all nations and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.