WHO advises lifestyle changes over obesity drugs for children under 10

The World Health Organization has advised diet, exercise and counseling over popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in its first global guidelines tackling rising obesity among younger children, issued on Wednesday.

For children under 10, the agency endorsed diet, physical activity and combined behavioral support instead of obesity medication, surgery or devices, citing doubts over safety and long-term effectiveness.

Weight-loss drugs may be considered for adolescents aged 10 to 19 with obesity, but only after supervised interventions have failed, while bariatric surgery could be considered solely for physically and mentally mature adolescents with severe obesity, after six months of unsuccessful treatment.

Luz María De Regil, director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, said there was insufficient evidence on GLP-1 drugs, adding that researchers are monitoring efficacy and safety trials and may revise the guidance as data emerges.

“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,” she said.

The guidelines cite UNICEF data showing obesity has surpassed underweight as the most common form of malnutrition among school children and adolescents worldwide.

Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Saxenda can already be used by certain adolescents aged 12 and older in the US and EU, and the EU also permits Saxenda for some children aged 6 to 11.