WHO endorses lifestyle changes over GLP-1 drugs in child obesity fight

By Kunal Das and Christy Santhosh Oct 7 (Reuters) The World Health Organization on Wednesday recommended diet, exercise and counseling over popular weight-loss drugs in its first global guidelines addressing rising ​obesity among younger children. According to UNICEF data, obesity has ‌surpassed being underweight as the most common form of malnutrition in school children and adolescents worldwide. The health agency said weight-loss drugs may be considered for adolescents aged 10 to 19 with obesity but only after supervised interventions have failed. Bariatric ‌surgery ​could be considered for physically and mentally ⁠mature adolescents with severe obesity ⁠after six months of unsuccessful treatment, it said. For children under 10, WHO endorsed diet, physical activity and combined behavioral support instead of obesity medication, surgery or devices because of doubts over their ​safety and long-term effectiveness. Luz María De Regil, director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Saf