New global guidelines warn against obesity drugs for children under 10

New global guidelines advise against the use of obesity medications for children under ten, the World Health Organization announced. According to WHO estimates, approximately 170 cardinal children and adolescents worldwide are classified as obese, with 70 cardinal of those falling within the 5‑to‑9‑year age bracket. Obesity prevalence in this group has quadrupled since 1990, climbing from 2 percent to 8 percent. In 2024, 35 cardinal children younger than five were recorded as overweight. The guidance highlights that excess weight raises the risk of numerous health conditions, including type 2 diabetes. Dr Luz De Rigil, Director of Nutrition and Food Safety at WHO, stated: "For children nether 10, WHO does not urge obesity medicines, bariatric country oregon weight-management devices. This is simply a beardown recommendation." She added: "These mightiness beryllium due for older children and adolescents erstwhile manner approaches person failed and if the idiosyncratic is "mentally and physically prepared" for the treatment." She also noted that WHO recognises this is an evolving tract and volition proceed to measure the evidence. Laurence Grummer‑Strawn, head of Nutrition and Food Safety Actions, remarked: "We are peculiarly acrophobic successful this property group, if you are starting children precise aboriginal connected to utilizing a GLP-1 oregon drugs similar this, erstwhile does that stop? We don't truly person grounds that you tin usage this arsenic a impermanent attraction and past crook to thing dietary aboriginal connected successful life. We are precise cautious astir jumping in without wide evidence."