The World Health Organization has released its first-ever global guidelines on managing obesity in children and adolescents — a long-overdue move as the condition reaches epidemic proportions worldwide. The guidelines lay out a clear framework for health systems and workers to deliver evidence-based, person-centred care across different age groups.

At the heart of the recommendations: structured dietary, physical activity, and behaviour-change interventions — not pills or procedures. For children under 10, WHO explicitly advises against pharmacological treatment, bariatric surgery, and weight-loss devices. For adolescents aged 10–19, medication or surgery may only be considered when supervised lifestyle programmes fall short, and only under strict conditions.

The guidelines also spotlight the mental health dimension of obesity, urging health workers to address anxiety, depression, and stigma alongside physical health — using inclusive, family-engaged strategies.

By the Numbers:

• 170 million children and adolescents (ages 5–19) are living with obesity globally
• 70 million are children aged 5–9; 100 million are adolescents aged 10–19
• Obesity prevalence in this age group has quadrupled since 1990, rising from 2% to 8%

Why it matters: These guidelines give health systems a globally unified, age-appropriate roadmap to tackle one of the fastest-growing public health crises affecting children — balancing clinical care with the broader social and emotional needs of young patients.