In 2024, around 170 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 were living with obesity worldwide. The number is part of a growing health challenge that has seen obesity rates in this age group rise fourfold since 1990.Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn a clearer line on how obesity should be treated in young people. In new guidelines released on October 7, the global health agency says children aged under 10 should not receive weight-loss medicines, undergo bariatric surgery or use weight-management devices to treat obesity.The guidance is significant because it addresses not just how childhood obesity can be prevented, but how children already living with the condition should receive care.
What does WHO recommend for children under 10?
WHO’s new guideline on managing obesity in children recommends a comprehensive approach that combines healthy eating, physical activity and support to help children change habits over time.The agency does not recommend pharmacological treatment, bariatric surgery or weight-management devices for children aged 0 to 9 years.The emphasis is on care that supports a child’s growth, health and overall wellbeing, rather than focusing only on weight loss. The guideline also calls for interventions that take account of children’s needs and involve their families.This matters because childhood obesity is not simply a question of appearance or body size. WHO describes obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease that can affect health early in life and increase the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Children living with obesity may also experience stigma, discrimination and bullying, which can affect their emotional wellbeing.
What changes for teenagers with obesity?
The guidance is different for adolescents aged 10 to 19.WHO says approved anti-obesity medicines may be considered when a supervised programme combining lifestyle interventions has not achieved the desired results. This does not mean that medicines should automatically be prescribed to every teenager living with obesity.Bariatric surgery may also be considered for adolescents with severe obesity, but only under strict conditions. The decision needs to account for the individual’s circumstances and the potential benefits and risks.The recommendations therefore distinguish between younger children, for whom medicines, surgery and weight-management devices are not recommended, and adolescents who may qualify for additional treatment after careful assessment.
Childhood obesity has increased sharply
The scale of the problem helps explain why the new guidance matters.According to WHO, about 400 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 were overweight in 2024, including 170 million living with obesity. The prevalence of obesity in this age group rose from 2% in 1990 to 8% in 2024.Obesity can continue into adulthood and is associated with a higher risk of noncommunicable diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Its effects can also extend to a child’s social life, education and mental health.WHO says treatment alone cannot reverse the trend. Governments and communities also need to make healthy food and opportunities for physical activity more accessible and affordable.
Mental health must be part of obesity care
The new guidance also highlights the need to address mental health alongside obesity.Children living with obesity may face bullying and stigma. Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and difficulties managing emotions can also affect their wellbeing and their relationship with food and physical activity.WHO recommends that care should be inclusive, appropriate to a child’s stage of development and responsive to the needs of the whole family. Health workers should identify and address mental health concerns early, rather than treating them as separate from physical health.The overall message is clear: childhood obesity requires timely, sustained support. For younger children, WHO recommends a focus on structured lifestyle and behavioural interventions, while medicines and surgery remain possible options only for selected adolescents under specific conditions.
