The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued the first international guidelines on managing childhood obesity, which highlight the potential use of GLP-1 treatments for children and adolescents, but with stringent criteria and caution.
The newly released global recommendations suggest a variety of strategies to address the increasing prevalence of obesity among young people worldwide. These interventions include dietary management, increased physical activity, and behavior modification. In specific cases, older children and teenagers may also consider medication or bariatric surgery.
According to the WHO, medical treatment or surgery is not recommended for children under nine years old. For older youth aged 10 to 19, medical interventions may be considered if lifestyle programs have not produced desired outcomes. Bariatric surgery is only recommended for severe cases of obesity in young people.
Dr. Luz MarÃÂa De Regil, the WHO’s director of the department of nutrition and food safety, emphasized that the core of obesity care for children and adolescents should focus on healthy eating, physical activity, and sustainable behavior changes, rather than medication or surgery.
In Canada, pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Marina Ybarra welcomed the WHO’s acknowledgement of medications as a potential approach to combat obesity. She pointed out that while two GLP-1 medications are approved for weight management in Canadian youths aged 12 and above, accessing these drugs often requires payment through insurance or out-of-pocket expenses.
The WHO’s guidelines aim to address the escalating rates of obesity in youth globally. In 2024, around 170 million children and teenagers between the ages of five and 19 were living with obesity, marking a fourfold increase since 1990.
The WHO’s recommendations align with recent Canadian guidelines on managing childhood obesity, which emphasize the importance of behavioral support and, in some cases, medical or surgical interventions.
While GLP-1 medications like Ozempic have gained popularity among adults for weight management and diabetes, caution is advised when considering their use in children and teens due to limited research and potential misuse risks.
The WHO underlines the necessity of careful consideration when using GLP-1 treatments in younger individuals, given the lack of long-term data. Ongoing drug trials by companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are exploring the efficacy and safety of pediatric obesity medications for children as young as six.
As this field rapidly evolves, the WHO emphasizes the need for continued research and vigilance in the use of GLP-1 treatments for youth.
