\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n \tRelated story \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRHOC’s Emily Simpson Opens Up About \u2018Microdosing\u2019 GLP-1s After a 50-Lb Weight Loss\t\t<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n \t \n\t\u201cThe 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,\u201d Dr. Luz Mar\u00eda De Regil, director of WHO\u2019s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, said in a statement.<\/p>\n \n\tThat care should continue over time and reflect each child\u2019s age and family\u2019s needs. WHO says the goal should be to improve children\u2019s health and well-being \u2014 not just help them lose weight.<\/p>\n \n\tThere are still questions about how these medications affect<\/a> growing children. According to the European Medical Journal<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n \n\tDrugmakers are already studying these treatments in children. Novo Nordisk has been testing semaglutide (sold as Wegovy) in children ages 6\u201312. Eli Lilly is also running pediatric trials<\/a> of tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound).<\/p>\n \n\tFor adolescents ages 10\u201319, WHO says approved medicines<\/a> may be considered, but only when a supervised program combining diet, physical activity and behavior changes hasn\u2019t been enough on its own. That doesn\u2019t mean the guidelines recommend medication for every child in that age group.<\/p>\n \n\tWeight-loss surgery may also be considered for adolescents with severe obesity, though WHO says it should be done only under strict conditions.<\/p>\n \n\tThe guidelines also address what children may be dealing with emotionally.<\/p>\n \n\tOne analysis cited in a systematic review<\/a> found that children with obesity had 32 percent higher odds of depression than children without obesity. Childhood obesity<\/a> is also linked to low self-esteem, eating disorders, and social anxiety, according to the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cOur 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,\u201d De Regil said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Emily](\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-sheknows-2020\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
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\n<\/section>\n<\/p>\n\n\t\tHelping Families Make Changes That Last\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tQuestions About Growth and Nutrition\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tThe Recommendation Is Different for Older Kids\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tMental Health Is Part of the Care, Too\t<\/h2>\n