WHO last week published its first guidelines on obesity in children and adolescents, recommending lifestyle support for all ages while ruling out medicines and surgery for under-10s and allowing them only in limited circumstances for adolescents.
An estimated 170 million 5–19-year-olds were living with obesity in 2024, and prevalence in this age group has quadrupled since 1990, from 2% to 8%. WHO describes obesity as a chronic, relapsing but treatable disease that raises the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also notes that living with obesity can expose young people to stigma and bullying.
The guidelines recommend structured dietary, physical activity and behavioural interventions, delivered one-to-one or through multimodal programmes. Digital interventions are conditionally recommended, provided they are under parental supervision.
Weight-loss devices are also not recommended for children under 10. For 10–19-year-olds, approved medicines may be considered only if a supervised lifestyle programme has proved ineffective, while surgery is only an option for severe obesity under strict conditions.
“The foundation of obesity care for children and adolescents is not medicine or surgery, but access to comprehensive support that enables healthy eating, physical activity and sustainable behaviour change,” said Dr Luz María De Regil, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety.
The guidance stresses that care should aim to improve overall health and well-being rather than weight alone, with long-term, family-centred follow-up and attention to mental health. WHO also says treatment alone cannot reverse the trend, urging governments to make healthy food and physical activity more affordable and accessible.
About the Author: Erin Dearlove
WHO last week published its first guidelines on obesity in children and adolescents, recommending lifestyle support for all ages while ruling out medicines and surgery for under-10s and allowing them only in limited circumstances for adolescents.
An estimated 170 million 5–19-year-olds were living with obesity in 2024, and prevalence in this age group has quadrupled since 1990, from 2% to 8%. WHO describes obesity as a chronic, relapsing but treatable disease that raises the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also notes that living with obesity can expose young people to stigma and bullying.
The guidelines recommend structured dietary, physical activity and behavioural interventions, delivered one-to-one or through multimodal programmes. Digital interventions are conditionally recommended, provided they are under parental supervision.
Weight-loss devices are also not recommended for children under 10. For 10–19-year-olds, approved medicines may be considered only if a supervised lifestyle programme has proved ineffective, while surgery is only an option for severe obesity under strict conditions.
“The foundation of obesity care for children and adolescents is not medicine or surgery, but access to comprehensive support that enables healthy eating, physical activity and sustainable behaviour change,” said Dr Luz María De Regil, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety.
The guidance stresses that care should aim to improve overall health and well-being rather than weight alone, with long-term, family-centred follow-up and attention to mental health. WHO also says treatment alone cannot reverse the trend, urging governments to make healthy food and physical activity more affordable and accessible.
About the Author: Erin Dearlove
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