WHO Issues First Global Guidelines to Tackle Childhood Obesity

GENEVA – The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first global guidelines for managing obesity among children and adolescents, as the number of young people living with excess weight continues to rise worldwide.

Released on October 7, 2026, the guidelines call for an integrated approach combining healthy diets, physical activity, behavioural support and mental health care. WHO says these measures should form the foundation of obesity treatment before medical interventions are considered.

WHO estimates that around 400 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 were overweight in 2024. About 170 million were living with obesity, including 70 million children aged 5–9 and 100 million adolescents aged 10–19.

The prevalence of obesity among people aged 5–19 has quadrupled since 1990, rising from approximately 2% to 8% in 2024.

WHO classifies obesity as a chronic disease that can have serious long-term consequences. Children and adolescents living with obesity face higher risks of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. They may also experience stigma, discrimination and bullying, which can affect their mental health and social well-being.

The new guidelines strongly recommend structured interventions covering diet, physical activity and behavioural change. These measures can be delivered individually or through comprehensive programmes combining several forms of support.

WHO has also set clear limits on medical treatment.

For children aged 0–9, WHO does not recommend pharmacological treatment, bariatric surgery or weight-management devices. Care should instead focus on comprehensive support involving children and their families.

For adolescents aged 10–19, approved obesity medicines may be considered in specific circumstances when supervised lifestyle interventions have failed to achieve the desired results. Bariatric surgery may also be considered for adolescents with severe obesity under strict conditions.

WHO stresses that treatment should not focus solely on weight loss. The broader goal is to improve health, functioning and quality of life.

“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 behaviour change,” said Dr Luz María De Regil, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety.

The agency is also calling for policies that make healthy diets and physical activity more accessible and affordable through measures involving education, transport, urban planning and social protection.

The new guidelines form part of WHO’s broader life-course approach to obesity prevention and treatment, extending from childhood and adolescence into adulthood.