WHO publishes first global guidelines on childhood obesity as cases rise

By 2024, there will be approx 170 million children and adolescents live with obesity – including 70 million children aged five to nine and around 100 million teenagers up to 19 years old.

United Nations health agency define obesity as a “chronic relapsing disease” triggered by excessive fat deposits that can still be managed through effective treatment.

What’s at stake

Children and adolescents who suffer from this disease can face medical and social impacts from an early age, WHO warned.

Obesity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

That is, too increasing their likelihood of experiencing stigma, discrimination and bullying, which can have a negative impact on mental health.

In its new guidelines, WHO strongly recommends changes in diet, physical activity and other behavior change interventions.

Weight loss drugs: last resort

He do not recommend pharmacological treatmentbariatric surgery (surgery that changes the digestive system to induce weight loss) or weight loss devices for children aged 0-9 years.

For adolescents aged 10-19 years, treatment with approved medications – such as GLP-1 therapy – should only be considered if a supervised lifestyle program fails to provide improvement.

As well as, Bariatric surgery may be considered under strict conditions for those who are severely obese.

“The cornerstone of obesity treatment for children and adolescents is not drugs or surgery, but access to comprehensive support that enables healthy eating, physical activity and sustainable behavior change.,” said Dr. Luz María De Regil, Director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at WHO.

Keep it up

The new recommendations also emphasize the importance of addressing mental health alongside obesity, as it is both a cause and a consequence of the disease.

Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and emotional dysregulation can contribute to unhealthy eating behavior, lack of physical activity, and social withdrawal, while children and teens suffering from obesity may also experience stigma and bullying that harm their emotional well-being.

The guidelines emphasize that obesity treatment should go beyond weight loss and aim to improve health, function and well-being, especially by being tailored to each child’s specific needs and by ensuring long-term follow-up.

Political action

At the same time, WHO recognizes that treatment cannot reverse the rise in obesity by itself: systemic changes are needed.

The agency calls for policies and measures that make healthy eating and physical activity more accessible and affordable, including regulatory and fiscal measures as well as action in the areas of education, urban planning, transport and social protection.

“Our priority is to ensure that every child and young person can access quality services and a supportive environment from an early agehelps them achieve and maintain a healthy weight and lays the foundation for lifelong health and well-being,” said Dr. De Regil.