WHO says no obesity drugs, surgery for under-10s
Medical Xpress, carrying an AFP report, says the World Health Organization issued its first guidelines on child and adolescent obesity. They advise against drugs, bariatric surgery or weight-loss devices for children aged 0–9 years, favouring structured diets, physical activity and behaviour change. For ages 10–19 years, approved medicines may be considered after supervised lifestyle programs fail, and surgery only under strict conditions for severe obesity.
Why it matters: Relevant to Maryland parents of children or adolescents living with obesity, and to clinicians who refer young patients for weight management.
A summary of another publisher's reporting, written with AI and checked automatically against the story. The reporting belongs to medicalxpress.com. October 7, 2026.