The Global Health Body Issues Concern Over Critical Lack of Obesity Jabs

Less than 10% of patients who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy have access to them, states the global health agency as it issues its first recommendations on the drugs.

Considering more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication.

According to projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.

"The new guidelines acknowledges that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous treatment," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are key hurdles to universal availability to the injections that can help people shift considerable weight, explains the agency.

Skinny Jab Shortage

Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.

The guideline calls on nations and manufacturers to increase availability, by approaches including voluntary licensing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of a leading brand – is due to expire in a number of countries in 2026.

The Way Obesity Jabs Function

GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and increase the sense of being full so individuals consume fewer calories.

Individuals typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the treatment, when their normal appetite return.

Being overweight or obese increases your chance for contracting diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.

Obesity impacts people in every country and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the health agency.