Context: WHO released guidelines on obesity management in children/adolescents, stressing healthy diet, physical activity and behavioural change over medication/surgery.
Global obesity among 5–19-year-olds increased from 2% (1990) to 8% (2024); ~170 million children/adolescents were living with obesity in 2024.
Digital interventions, pharmacotherapy & bariatric surgery → Conditional
Weight-loss medicines/surgery may be considered for adolescents with severe/morbid obesity and associated complications, or inadequate response to lifestyle interventions.
India’s 5–19-year-old population with obesity is projected to reach ~27 million by 2030.
NFHS data cited: overweight/obesity increased substantially among children and adolescents between 2005–06 and 2019–21.
GLP-1 drugs mimic the action of glucagon-like peptide-1, promoting satiety and reducing food intake; examples include semaglutide and liraglutide.
WHO emphasises that obesity management in children should be comprehensive and long-term, rather than relying primarily on medicines or surgery
