WHO Advises Against Obesity Drugs for Children Under 10

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued strong guidance advising against the use of obesity medications, bariatric surgery, or weight-management devices for children under the age of 10. Instead, the organization emphasizes a focus on healthy eating and exercise for this age group.

Globally, an estimated 170 million children and adolescents are obese. Within this figure, 70 million are between the ages of 5 and 9. The prevalence of obesity in this younger demographic has quadrupled since 1990, increasing from 2% to 8%. Furthermore, in 2024, 35 million children under five were identified as overweight. Obesity is a known risk factor for numerous health conditions, including type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Luz De Rigil, Director of Nutrition and Food Safety at WHO, stated that for children younger than 10, the organization does not recommend obesity medicines, bariatric surgery, or weight-management devices, calling it a "strong recommendation." She noted that these interventions might be considered for older children and adolescents if lifestyle modifications have proven insufficient and if the individual is "mentally and physically prepared" for the treatment.

Laurence Grummer-Strawn, WHO's head of Nutrition and Food Safety Actions, expressed particular concern regarding the long-term implications of starting very young children on GLP-1 agonists or similar drugs. He questioned how long such treatments would need to continue and noted the lack of evidence supporting their use as temporary measures that can later be replaced by dietary interventions. "We are very cautious about jumping in without clear evidence," he stated. The WHO acknowledges that this is a developing area and will continue to assess the available evidence.