🔗 Share this article The Global Health Body Issues Alert Over Critical Lack of Weight-Loss Jabs Fewer than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the therapies. With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication. Per projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention. "The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, notes the agency. Skinny Jab Shortage Even in the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO. The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by approaches such as licensing agreements. A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026. The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work The injections replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake. Individuals typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses. Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, when their normal food cravings return. Being overweight or obese raises your risk for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies. Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
Fewer than one in 10 people eligible to benefit from obesity jabs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural guidance on the therapies. With more than one billion individuals worldwide currently classified as obese, it is advocating for increased and just access to GLP-1 medication. Per projections, over two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 without intervention. "The new guidelines affirms that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing care," said its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are key hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can help people shift significant weight, notes the agency. Skinny Jab Shortage Even in the present best projected outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO. The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to expand availability, by approaches such as licensing agreements. A patent on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026. The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Work The injections replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance the sense of being full so individuals reduce food intake. Individuals typically start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses. Research suggests users may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the medication, when their normal food cravings return. Being overweight or obese raises your risk for developing diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and certain malignancies. Obesity impacts individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.