WHO guidelines on the integrated management of obesity in adolescents

Overview

This WHO guideline provides practice- and science-informed global clinical and public health recommendations for the integrated management of obesity in adolescents aged 10–19 years, responding to the growing global burden of obesity and supporting improved case management and care pathways through a primary health care approach. Its aim is to help Member States and their partners adopt and adapt interventions that improve health, functioning and reduce obesity-associated disability. Developed using a people-centred approach, the guideline considers the views, values and preferences of adolescents and their caregivers and is grounded in principles of equity, gender equality and human rights.

The guideline presents recommendations on dietary interventions, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep, behaviour changing interventions, digital health interventions, pharmacotherapy, bariatric surgery, and multimodal interventions. The recommendations are informed by systematic evidence reviews together with considerations of benefits and harms, equity, acceptability, feasibility, costs, and the values and preferences of adolescents and their caregivers. Intended for policy-makers, programme managers, health workers and others involved in adolescent obesity care, the guideline also outlines its development methodology, implementation considerations, monitoring approaches and research priorities to support future updates.