WHO’s First-ever Child Obesity Guidelines
Why in News?
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) for the first of its kind released guidelines on the management of obesity in children and adolescents. It will regulate the use of any weight loss drugs or surgery in children below the age of nine, and only in very select cases in adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 will it be allowed.
The guidelines allow the use of drugs and surgery for adolescents who are morbidly obese with lifestyle conditions such as type-2 diabetes, insulin resistance, or uncontrolled hypertension, and for those among whom lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise have failed to achieve any results after six months.
What do the guidelines say?
After reviewing evidence on diet, exercise, digital tools, medicines, surgeries WHO has made the following recommendations for managing obesity in children:
Strongly recommended: Structured diet, physical activity, and behavior change, or a combination of all three, for both children and adolescents.
Not recommended for children under 9: surgeries like gastric bypass and weight-loss drugs including GLP-1s(Glucagon like peptide 1 ).
For adolescents (10-19 years): Surgery and drugs are only conditionally recommended, and only in cases of severe obesity, obesity-related health conditions, or when other interventions have failed after six months. The guidelines also conditionally support digital tools like active video games, fitness apps, pedometers, and accelerometers to encourage movement, while advising to limit sedentary screen time, though the evidence here is still limited.
Why are these guidelines needed?
According to the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) 2016-18, India is expected to have over 27 million obese children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 by 2030, accounting for 11% of the global burden.
Global Burden: As of 2024, 170 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 are living with obesity worldwide: 70 million children aged 5-9 and 100 million adolescents aged 10-19. The fastest rise is happening in low- and middle-income countries.
India's Situation: According to a Lancet study, the number of obese boys in India jumped from 0.2 million in 1990 to 7.3 million in 2022, while obese girls rose from 0.2 million to 5.2 million. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) projects that India will have over 27 million obese young people aged 5-19, making up 11% of the global burden. This adds to the country's existing dual challenge of malnutrition and overnutrition.
Regulatory and Clinical Context in India: The CDSCO has approved semaglutide(anti diabetic medicine) for adolescents aged 12 and above, but strictly for severe obesity with related conditions like fatty liver (NAFLD) and prediabetes.
Doctors also caution that bariatric surgery(weight loss surgery) in children carries serious risks, including poor absorption of essential nutrients and hampered physical growth.
About CDSCO
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is India's National Regulatory Authority for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics. It is responsible for carrying out functions assigned to the Central Government under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945. Its main role is to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs, medical devices, and diagnostic kits in the country.
CDSCO plays a key role in regulating and monitoring drug development, manufacturing, distribution, and marketing in India.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has recently called for the rational, safe, and responsible use of commonly used painkillers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs) and antibiotics.
The advisory comes amid growing concerns over misuse, overuse, and self-medication, which can lead to serious side effects, antibiotic resistance, and other health complications.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, under the Directorate General of Health Services
Headed by: Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)
Headquarters: New Delhi
Conclusion:
Childhood obesity is no longer a high-income country problem; it's now rising fastest in countries like India. With over 27 million young Indians expected to be affected, we are facing a dual burden of both undernutrition and overnutrition. The new WHO guidelines make it clear: the first line of treatment should always be a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and behavior change. Medicines and surgeries are not for every child; they are only for adolescents above 12 with severe obesity and related complications, and that too after other measures have failed.
For India, the focus needs to be on prevention through better food habits, active lifestyles, and early screening, while ensuring drugs like semaglutide are used carefully and not overused. The goal is to treat obesity early without compromising a child's growth and long-term health.
