According to data from the World Health Organization, in 2024 more than 170 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 worldwide had obesity. Of them, about 70 million are children aged 5-9, and 100 million are adolescents aged 10-19. According to WHO data, the prevalence of obesity in this age group has quadrupled since 1990.
On 7 October the WHO published its first separate guidelines on the treatment of obesity in children and adolescents. The organization stresses the importance of a healthy diet, physical activity and behavioral interventions.
The WHO also notes that treatment alone is not enough to stop the rise in the spread of obesity. The organization calls on countries to make healthy food and physical activity more accessible and affordable.
