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WHO issues first global guidelines for childhood obesity management

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first global guidelines for the integrated management of obesity in children and adolescents aged 5 to 19. The announcement comes as global obesity prevalence in this age group has quadrupled from 2% in 1990 to 8% in 2024, affecting approximately 170 million young people.

The guidelines emphasize that the foundation of obesity care should be structured interventions focusing on healthy nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral changes, rather than medical or surgical solutions. For children aged 0 to 9, the WHO does not recommend pharmacological treatments, bariatric surgery, or weight-loss devices due to limited evidence regarding long-term safety and efficacy.

For adolescents aged 10 to 19, approved medications may be considered only if supervised, multimodal lifestyle programs fail to achieve desired results for at least six months. Bariatric surgery is reserved for cases of severe obesity under strict clinical and psychological conditions. The WHO also noted that obesity is a chronic, recurring disease that increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, while also impacting mental health through risks of stigma, bullying, and depression.

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General Council of Pharmaceutical Colleges · Luz Maria De Regil · Maria Nieves Garcia Casal · Ministry of Health · Mounjaro · Ozempic · UNICEF · World Health Organization

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