WHO's First Guidelines on Child and Adolescent Obesity Advise Against Weight-Loss Drugs Under Age 10 and Allow Them for Teens Only After Lifestyle Programs Fail
The World Health Organization published its first guidelines on managing obesity in children and in adolescents on October 7, 2026. For children up to age 9, it makes a strong recommendation against weight-loss medicines, based on low-quality evidence. For ages 10 to 19, it conditionally suggests medicines only for teens who have obesity-related complications, such as type 2 diabetes or uncontrolled high blood pressure, and whose weight has not improved after a supervised diet, exercise, and behavior program lasting at least six months; treatment should be given by a specialist team with long-term follow-up. WHO's evidence review found mostly short trials and noted that teens taking GLP-1 drugs or orlistat stopped more often because of side effects.