WHO issues first guidance on tackling childhood obesity as rates surge globally

The World Health Organization has unveiled its first dedicated guidance for addressing the rising epidemic of childhood and adolescent obesity, highlighting a quadrupling of cases since 1990 and emphasising comprehensive support to improve health and wellbeing across regions.

The World Health Organization has issued its first guidance aimed specifically at tackling the rise in obesity among children and teenagers, warning that 170 million people aged five to 19 were living with obesity in 2024. The agency said the share of young people in that age group affected by obesity has quadrupled since 1990, climbing from 2% to 8%, in a trend that now touches every region and is increasingly visible in lower-income countries as well as wealthier ones.

The WHO says obesity should be treated as a chronic, recurring disease that can be managed with effective care, rather than as a short-term weight issue. It warned that health consequences can begin early in life, including a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later on. The agency also highlighted the social harm that often accompanies obesity, noting that children and adolescents may face stigma, bullying and exclusion that can damage school life, wellbeing and long-term health.

In its guidance, the WHO strongly recommends structured support built around nutrition, physical activity and behaviour change, whether delivered on its own or as part of a broader programme. Digital health tools can also be considered in some situations, but only with supervision from a parent or carer. The agency does not recommend drug treatment, bariatric surgery or weight-loss devices for children under 10. For adolescents aged 10 to 19, approved medicines may be considered only after supervised lifestyle treatment fails to deliver results, and surgery may be assessed in severe cases under strict conditions.

The agency stressed that mental health must be addressed alongside obesity, since anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and emotional distress can contribute to unhealthy eating, inactivity and withdrawal from social life. Dr Luz Maria de Regil, who leads the WHO’s nutrition and food safety work, said children and teenagers need access to comprehensive support that makes healthy eating, exercise and lasting behaviour change possible. She said the priority should be to ensure every child and adolescent can reach quality care and supportive environments early in life, building a foundation for health and wellbeing that can last into adulthood. The warning comes as WHO Europe’s latest surveillance work shows childhood obesity remains stubbornly high across the region, with many countries failing to reverse the problem after the pandemic.