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WHO issues new guidelines advising against obesity drugs for children under 10
Overview
New global guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) state that children under the age of 10 should not be prescribed obesity medications, weight-loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy, or undergo bariatric surgery. Instead, care for this age group should focus on healthy eating and physical activity. While the WHO remains cautious about early use of GLP-1 drugs due to a lack of long-term evidence, such treatments may still be considered for older adolescents when lifestyle changes are unsuccessful.
Key points
- New WHO guidelines strongly advise against giving obesity drugs, weight-loss injections, or bariatric surgery to children under 10.
- Care for children under 10 should focus primarily on healthy eating and exercise rather than medication or surgery.
- Global estimates indicate that 170 million children and adolescents are obese, including 70 million children aged 5 to 9.
- WHO officials expressed concern over the lack of evidence regarding long-term or temporary use of GLP-1 drugs in very young children.
- Obesity medications and bariatric treatments may still be appropriate for older adolescents if lifestyle approaches fail and they are prepared for the treatment.