WHO Advises Against Obesity Drugs for Children Under 10

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first global guidelines specifically addressing childhood and adolescent obesity, recommending that children under 10 should not be treated with obesity medications, weight-loss surgery or weight-management devices.

The guidance comes as childhood obesity continues to become a major healthcare concern. In 2024, an estimated 400 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 were overweight, including 170 million living with obesity. WHO says obesity prevalence in this age group has quadrupled since 1990.

For children aged 0 to 9, WHO recommends structured dietary programmes, physical activity and behavioural interventions involving parents or caregivers. The organisation says there is not yet enough evidence to support the long-term safety and effectiveness of obesity medicines in this age group.

The recommendation is particularly relevant as GLP-1 medicines have rapidly expanded as a treatment for obesity. WHO has taken a more cautious position for younger children, while allowing approved medications to be considered for adolescents aged 10 to 19 when supervised lifestyle interventions have not produced sufficient results.

The new guidance also has implications for healthcare providers. Managing childhood obesity will require greater emphasis on long-term monitoring, nutrition counselling, physical activity programmes and family-supported care rather than relying primarily on medication.

WHO's position could also influence how health systems develop pediatric obesity services, particularly as demand for specialist weight-management care continues to grow. The guidelines reinforce a broader shift toward treating obesity as a chronic condition requiring coordinated, long-term support rather than a problem addressed through weight loss alone.