CHILDREN under the age of 10 should not be given drugs to treat obesity, including GLP-1 weight-loss medications, according to new global guidance issued by the World Health Organization.
As part of its first guidelines to address child and adolescent obesity, the WHO advised that children aged 0–9 years should not receive pharmacological treatment, bariatric surgery or use weight-loss devices.
Instead, it strongly recommends support for young people to encourage healthy eating and physical activity, as well as general interventions to prompt sustainable behaviour changes.
Released on Wednesday, the report addresses the sharp global rise in childhood and adolescent obesity and sets out a number of principles for health systems and health workers.
According to the WHO, in 2024 there were 170 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 years living with obesity, including 70 million children aged 5–9 years and 100 million adolescents aged 10–19 years. In 2024, 35 million children under the age of five were overweight.
The prevalence of obesity in this age group has quadrupled since 1990, rising from 2% of the total population to 8% and is expected to rise to 250 million children by 2030.
Those impacted by childhood obesity are more likely to develop issues such as Type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.
Children who are overweight are also at greater risk of mental health challenges like anxiety and depression and more likely to face discrimination stigma and bullying.
For these reasons, the WHO said in its report that it is “essential” to help support children with obesity, namely through structured support for diet, physical activity and behaviour change, tailored to each child and their family.
Its strong recommendation against weight-loss drugs and treatment for younger children reflects insufficient evidence about their effects on long-term growth and mental health, alongside concerns about misuse.
GLP-1 medicines can substantially reduce calorie intake, raising concerns that children may receive too little energy and nutrition to support healthy growth and development.
The recommendations arrive as pharmaceutical companies investigate GLP-1 treatments in younger age groups.
Novo Nordisk has been studying semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, in children aged 6–12 years. In results announced last month, around two in five participants receiving the medicine were no longer classified as living with obesity after a year of treatment.
Eli Lilly is also conducting paediatric trials of tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound. These studies form part of a growing research effort to assess the medicines in children and adolescents.
The WHO’s guidance distinguishes younger children from adolescents aged 10–19 years. For adolescents, approved medicines may be considered only when a supervised programme combining lifestyle interventions has not achieved the desired results.
Dr Luz María De Regil, Director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, WHO, said: “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.”
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