The World Health Organization (WHO) just released its first global guidelines on treating obesity in children and adolescents, and its stance on weight-loss drugs for children under 10 is a firm no.
The guidelines (released Oct. 7) also advise against weight-loss surgery and weight-loss devices for children up to age 9. Instead, WHO recommends structured care that helps children and families build healthy eating habits, increase physical activity, and adjust daily routines.
In 2024, 170 million children and teens ages 5-19 worldwide were living with obesity. That’s 8 percent of children in that age group, up from 2 percent in 1990.
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Helping Families Make Changes That Last
“The foundation of obesity care for children and adolescents is not medicine or surgery, but access to comprehensive support that enables healthy eating, physical activity, and sustainable behavior change,” Dr. Luz María De Regil, director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, said in a statement.
That care should continue over time and reflect each child’s age and family’s needs. WHO says the goal should be to improve children’s health and well-being — not just help them lose weight.
Questions About Growth and Nutrition
There are still questions about how these medications affect growing children. According to the European Medical Journal, evidence on their long-term effects on growth and mental health is limited. GLP-1 drugs can reduce appetite and food intake, which raises concerns about whether younger children would get the calories and nutrients they need to grow.
Drugmakers are already studying these treatments in children. Novo Nordisk has been testing semaglutide (sold as Wegovy) in children ages 6–12. Eli Lilly is also running pediatric trials of tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound).
The Recommendation Is Different for Older Kids
For adolescents ages 10–19, WHO says approved medicines may be considered, but only when a supervised program combining diet, physical activity and behavior changes hasn’t been enough on its own. That doesn’t mean the guidelines recommend medication for every child in that age group.
Weight-loss surgery may also be considered for adolescents with severe obesity, though WHO says it should be done only under strict conditions.
Mental Health Is Part of the Care, Too
The guidelines also address what children may be dealing with emotionally.
One analysis cited in a systematic review found that children with obesity had 32 percent higher odds of depression than children without obesity. Childhood obesity is also linked to low self-esteem, eating disorders, and social anxiety, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“Our priority must be to ensure that every child and adolescent can access quality care and supportive environments from an early age, helping them achieve and maintain a healthy weight and laying the foundation for lifelong health and well-being,” De Regil said.
