GENEVA, Oct 7: The World Health Organisation has issued its first global guideline on managing obesity among children and adolescents, urging countries to prioritise healthy lifestyles, behavioural support and comprehensive care rather than relying primarily on medicines or surgery.
The new guidance comes amid growing concern over childhood obesity worldwide. The WHO said around 400 million children and adolescents aged five to 19 were overweight in 2024, including approximately 170 million living with obesity.
The organisation noted that the number of young people affected by obesity has increased sharply over recent decades, making the condition an increasingly important public health challenge.
Under the new recommendations, lifestyle-based interventions should form the foundation of care for children and adolescents with obesity.
These measures include healthier diets, regular physical activity and behavioural support. The WHO also emphasised the importance of counselling and involvement of parents or caregivers in helping young people adopt sustainable changes.
The guidance takes a cautious approach to the use of medicines for weight management in younger age groups. For children, particularly those below the age of 10, the WHO recommends prioritising lifestyle interventions rather than using weight-loss medicines as an initial approach.
For adolescents between 10 and 19 years of age who have obesity, medication may be considered in certain circumstances, particularly when supervised lifestyle interventions have not produced sufficient results.
The WHO stressed that treatment decisions should be made within appropriate healthcare settings and should take into account the individual needs of the young person.
The recommendations also place limits on the role of bariatric surgery. Surgery is suggested only for adolescents with severe obesity and after other approaches have been unsuccessful over an appropriate period.
The organisation said there is still insufficient evidence concerning the long-term safety and effectiveness of newer weight-loss medicines, including GLP-1 medications, for children and adolescents.
The guidance reflects the WHO’s wider emphasis on prevention and long-term health rather than quick solutions to weight management.
Childhood obesity can affect physical and psychological wellbeing and may increase the likelihood of developing health problems later in life. The WHO therefore recommends a broader approach that addresses diet, exercise, mental wellbeing and the environment in which children grow.
Experts have increasingly highlighted the influence of everyday surroundings on childhood weight. Access to nutritious food, opportunities for physical activity, family habits and social conditions can all influence children’s health.
The WHO said families and caregivers have an important role in supporting healthy behaviours. At the same time, responsibility cannot rest entirely on individual children or parents.
The organisation called for healthier environments and affordable options that make nutritious diets and physical activity more accessible.
This is particularly important in communities where healthy food may be expensive or difficult to obtain, or where children have limited opportunities for safe physical activity.
The global rise in obesity among young people has also created concerns for healthcare systems because obesity during childhood can continue into adulthood.
Early intervention can therefore help address health risks before they become more difficult to manage. However, the WHO’s recommendations suggest that treatment should not focus only on reducing body weight.
Instead, healthcare professionals are encouraged to consider the overall health and wellbeing of the child. Behavioural and psychological support can be important components of this approach, particularly when young people face stigma or emotional difficulties related to their weight.
The WHO’s position also reflects the changing landscape of obesity treatment. GLP-1 medicines have gained considerable attention because of their effectiveness in helping adults lose weight, but their use among younger populations requires greater consideration of long-term evidence, safety and appropriate patient selection.
The organisation has consequently advised against treating medicines as a substitute for healthier lifestyles.
For adolescents who may eventually require pharmacological treatment, the guidance recommends that medication should be part of a broader care plan rather than used independently.
Healthcare providers may need to monitor treatment, assess progress and continue supporting changes in diet, activity and behaviour.
The recommendations on surgery are similarly restrictive. Bariatric procedures can lead to substantial weight loss but are invasive and require long-term medical follow-up. The WHO therefore places them at the far end of the treatment pathway for adolescents with severe obesity.
The new guidance is also significant because childhood obesity cannot be addressed solely through clinical care.
Schools, communities and policymakers can influence the environments in which young people make daily choices. Measures that encourage physical activity, improve access to nutritious food and support health education can complement medical services.
The WHO’s recommendations consequently have implications beyond hospitals and clinics.
The scale of the problem is reflected in the global figures cited by the organisation. About 170 million children and adolescents were living with obesity in 2024, while the number of young people classified as overweight was substantially higher.
The WHO said the prevalence of obesity among five- to 19-year-olds has increased about fourfold since 1990, underlining the magnitude of the long-term shift.
The rise has occurred alongside changes in lifestyles, food environments and patterns of physical activity. Addressing these trends will require sustained public health efforts rather than short-term campaigns.
The organisation’s new guideline provides countries with a framework for developing approaches that combine prevention, early intervention and appropriate treatment.
For parents, the message is not to pursue rapid weight loss through unproven diets or unsupervised medication. Instead, families are encouraged to seek professional advice and focus on habits that can be maintained over time.
The WHO also emphasised that children and adolescents should be treated with dignity and without stigma. Negative attitudes surrounding obesity can discourage young people from seeking help and may contribute to mental health difficulties.
The new recommendations therefore combine medical guidance with a broader public health perspective.
By placing healthy diets, physical activity and behavioural support at the centre of care, the WHO hopes countries can respond to childhood obesity in a way that is sustainable and appropriate for different age groups.
The guidance does not rule out medicines or surgery altogether. Instead, it establishes them as options for selected cases, particularly among adolescents, while stressing that lifestyle and behavioural interventions should remain fundamental to treatment.
The WHO’s first global guideline on childhood obesity marks a significant step in establishing a common approach to a rapidly growing health challenge. Its central message is that preventing and managing obesity among young people requires long-term support, healthier environments and coordinated action from families, communities and health systems.