WHO warning over shortage of obesity jabs

Less than one in 10 people who could benefit from obesity jabs like Vegovi are likely to get them, warns World Health Organization as it releases its first medication guide.

With more than a billion people worldwide currently suffering from obesity, the organization is calling for wider and more equitable access to GLP-1 medicines.

It is predicted that by 2030, more than two billion people will be obese unless action is taken.

High costs, limited manufacturing capacity and supply chain constraints are the main barriers to universal access to the injections, which can help people make significant weight changes, according to the WHO.

He has already added them to his list of “essential” drugs (for overweight and diabetic patients) which countries are encouraged to provide.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “Our new guidance recognizes that obesity is a chronic disease that can be managed with comprehensive, lifelong care.

“While drugs alone will not solve this global health crisis, GLP-1 therapy can help millions of people overcome obesity and reduce the harm associated with it.”

WHO says the drugs, sometimes called skinny shots, represent a new chapter in a gradual conceptual shift in society's approach to obesity: from a “lifestyle condition” to a complex, preventable and treatable chronic disease.

It says the drugs can be taken long-term – for six months or more – but must be prescribed along with diet and exercise advice to help people lose weight.

According to WHO, too few people around the world can access them. “Our biggest concern is equal access,” Tedros said.

According to WHO, even under the current best-forecast scenario, production of GLP-1 drugs could only reach about 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them.

The guidance encourages countries and companies to expand access through strategies such as voluntary licensing, where a pharmaceutical company grants permission to others to produce affordable, unbranded versions of its patented drug.

The patent on semaglutide, the main ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, expires in several countries in 2026, meaning other drugmakers will soon be free to make and sell cheaper versions in countries such as India, Canada, China, Brazil and Turkey.

WHO says countries must also create healthier environments to promote health and prevent obesity.

GLP-1 medications mimic the natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite, and increase feelings of fullness, so people eat less.

In the UK, the injections are a prescription-only medicine, meaning they can only be prescribed by a healthcare professional to the person who clinically needs them.

Some are available on the NHS, but others are sold privately.

There is a black market and to be safe, people should avoid purchasing from unregulated sellers such as beauty salons or through social media.

People usually begin to lose weight within a few weeks of starting weekly injections.

Research shows that people can gain most of the weight back However, within a year of stopping the medication, their normal food cravings return.

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.

Obesity affects people in all countries and was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.