World Health Organization Issues Warning Over Critical Shortage of Obesity Injections

Less than a tenth of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, caution the WHO as it publishes its first recommendations on the drugs.

Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to these injectable treatments.

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

"Our latest guidance acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with thorough and lifelong care," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

High costs, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are key obstacles to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing substantial weight, notes the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity

Despite the present most optimistic case, the production of these medications could only cover approximately 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, as stated by the health organization.

The recommendation calls on countries and companies to expand availability, by measures like patent sharing.

The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of a leading brand – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.

The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Operate

The injections mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.

Patients usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.

Evidence suggests users may put most of the weight back on a year later of halting the medication, as their usual food cravings resume.

To be carrying excess weight elevates your chance for developing health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and certain cancers.

Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.