WHO warnt vor Mangel an Impfungen gegen Fettleibigkeit

With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.

According to projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

High costs, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major barriers to universal access to the injections that can help people shift significant weight, says WHO.

It has already added them to its „essential“ medicines list that countries are advised to provide.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: „Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care.

„While medication alone won’t solve this global health crisis, GLP-1 therapies can help millions overcome obesity and reduce its associated harms.“

WHO says these drugs, sometime called skinny jabs, represent a new chapter in the gradual conceptual shift in how society approaches 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 advice on diet and exercise, so that people can keep the weight off.

Too few people around the world can access them, says WHO. „Our greatest concern is equitable access,“ said Tedros.

Skinny jab shortage

Even under the current best projected scenario, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover around 100 million people – less than 10% of those who need them, according to the WHO.

The guideline calls on countries and companies to expand access, through strategies such as voluntary licensing – where a pharmaceutical company grants permission for others to make affordable non-brand versions of its patented drug.

A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026, meaning other drug-makers will soon be free to produce and sell cheap versions in places like India, Canada, China, Brazil and Turkey.

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

How obesity jabs work

GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to slow digestion, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people eat less.

In the UK, the injections are prescription only medicines, which means they can only be prescribed by a healthcare professional for a person who clinically needs it.

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

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

People typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.

Research suggests people may put most of the weight back on within a year of stopping the medication though, as their normal food cravings return.

Being overweight or obese increases your risk for developing health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.

Waiting for some numbnut politician to suggest putting it into public water.

If we’re globally in this position because foods have been made hyperpalatable, is taking it just a short term fix before uber-hyper-mega palatable food is designed that people on GLP-1s will overeat as well and gain weight again?

I’ve struggled with the last 10kg after losing 30kg myself slowly over a few years, I’d take that over being tied to a monthly fee to be thin any day but I do realise GLP1s are making weight loss more achievable and overall, that’s a net positive for healthcare providers although I have no info on if people on GLP1s also start exercising more for cardiovascular health (on average) etc

Could just try eating less and exercising more instead of taking medication that has unknown long term side effects but that doesn’t bring in billions of profit for big pharma

Yo momma is so fat…. That kind of jab?

The reputation of the BBC isn’t good.

What happened to the ‚Big is Beautiful‘ movement?

It’s not obesity medicine- it’s designed to lower your sugar and A1C. The weight loss is a side effect.

They need to prescribe for folks with prediabetes! Been climbing up the prediabetes number line for two years – with diet and exercise in check and within normal limits for BMi, it’s in the genes – and I’ve been told I will have to actually get diabetes to be able to obtain a prescription covered by insurance.

Calling them obesity jabs is so fucking lame. This shit has done nothing for my weight but helped lower my a1c , and control my blood sugars .

These things aren’t even available in my country, and we are much more obese than the US. How much of the world even has access; have they not always been in ’shortage‘?

It’s odd for such a hard to get medicine to already be on the essential medicines list.

Once a mass produced cheaper version comes out that would be great

Novonordisk:”Ok, I will be the most valuable country in Europe again”

I’m waiting for the holy grail one , no muscle mass loss, upkeep metabolism,

These comments are literal gold.