Context
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued guidelines addressing rising obesity among children and adolescents aged 10–19 years. It recommends healthy diets, physical activity and behavioural interventions while cautioning against routine use of weight-loss drugs and bariatric surgery in this age group.
Explanation
- Obesity is a condition involving excessive body-fat accumulation that increases health risks.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated as weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²); childhood obesity is assessed using age- and sex-specific BMI standards.
- WHO recommends structured dietary interventions, physical activity and behavioural changes for managing childhood obesity.
- Multimodal interventions combine nutrition, exercise, psychological support and family involvement.
- GLP-1 receptor agonists are medicines that mimic a gut hormone to regulate appetite and blood glucose levels.
- WHO advises against routine pharmacotherapy for children, with conditional recommendations for adolescents in selected cases.
- Bariatric surgery, which modifies the digestive system to promote weight loss, is strongly discouraged for children and conditionally considered for adolescents.
- Childhood obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
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Childhood Obesity Guidelines: WHO Policy and Prevention