WHO issues global guidelines on child and adolescent obesity
Children and adolescents living with obesity in 2024
The World Health Organization released its first global guidelines on child and adolescent obesity. The guidance prioritises dietary changes, physical activity and behaviour change, while limiting medicines and surgery to specific cases.
Claims
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- 170Mpeople
Children and adolescents living with obesity in 2024
“In 2024, there were around 170 million children and adolescents living with obesity”
- 70Mpeople
Children aged five to nine living with obesity in 2024
“including 70 million children aged five to nine”
- 100Mpeople
Adolescents up to age 19 living with obesity in 2024
“and some 100 million adolescents up to 19”
The World Health Organization defines obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease.
“defines obesity as a “chronic, relapsing disease””
WHO strongly recommends dietary changes, physical activity and behaviour-changing interventions for children and adolescents with obesity.
“WHO strongly recommends dietary changes, physical activity and other behaviour-changing interventions”
WHO does not recommend pharmacological treatment, bariatric surgery or weight-loss devices for children aged 0 to 9 years.
“It does not recommend pharmacological treatment, bariatric surgery ... or weight-loss devices for children aged 0-9 years”
The guidelines say approved medicines for adolescents aged 10 to 19 should be considered only after a supervised lifestyle programme fails to improve their condition.
“should only be considered when a supervised lifestyle programme has failed to make improvements”
The guidelines say bariatric surgery may be considered for adolescents with severe obesity under strict conditions.
“bariatric surgery may be considered under strict conditions for those with severe obesity”
WHO called for policies that make healthy diets and physical activity more accessible and affordable.
“called for policies and measures that make healthy diets and physical activity more accessible and affordable”