The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first guidelines concerning the sharp rise in obesity among children and adolescents, strongly recommending the implementation of structured diets, physical activity, and behavioral changes, while rejecting pharmacological treatment and surgical intervention for younger children.
WHO stated that pharmacological treatment, bariatric surgery (operations modifying the stomach or digestive tract), or weight loss devices are not recommended for children aged 0 to 9 years. However, for adolescents aged 10 to 19 years, approved medication may only be considered if a comprehensive lifestyle program under supervision has not yielded desired results. Bariatric surgery may be considered for adolescents with severe obesity under strict conditions.
These recommendations for individuals under 19 differ from the UN health agency's directives issued in December 2025 for adults with obesity, following the surge in popularity of new generations of appetite-suppressing drugs, such as GLP-1 agonists, including well-known brands Ozempic and Mounjaro. WHO noted that the range of medications used for treating obesity and diabetes can be utilized to combat obesity in adults.
According to WHO, in 2024, approximately 70 million children aged five to nine suffered from obesity, as did 100 million adolescents aged 10 to 19 worldwide. The prevalence of obesity among those aged 5 to 19 has significantly increased, rising from two percent in 1990 to eight percent in 2024.
Luz Maria De Regil, Director of WHO's Nutrition and Food Safety Department, noted that the rise in obesity is observed in all regions. She emphasized that the problem is worsening in low- and middle-income countries, while some high-income countries have begun to slow this growth, although they have not yet achieved a reduction in rates. According to her, the foundation of treating obesity in children and adolescents is not medicine or surgery, but access to comprehensive support that promotes healthy eating, physical activity, and sustainable behavioral change.
The recommendations also highlighted the importance of addressing mental health issues concurrently with combating obesity. WHO indicated that anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem can contribute to unhealthy eating, sedentary lifestyles, and social isolation. Furthermore, the UN health agency added that obese children and adolescents may face stigmatization and bullying.
Maria Nives Garcia Casal, a scientist at WHO's Nutrition and Food Safety Department, informed reporters that bariatric surgery may be considered in adolescence in cases of severe obesity complicated by conditions such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension, provided that dietary and lifestyle changes have proven unsuccessful.