WHO urges Indian families to prioritize lifestyle over medication for child obesity
The WHO released new guidelines urging families to focus on diet, activity and support rather than drugs or surgery to tackle childhood obesity in India.
The World Health Organization unveiled guidelines on October 7 that prioritize nutrition, physical activity, behavior modification and family support over pharmacological or surgical interventions for children with obesity. UNICEF India cites National Family Health Survey figures indicating that overweight and obesity among children under five have risen from 1.5% to 3.4% between 2005-06 and 2019-21, with similar trends among adolescents.
Experts like Vivek Jain and Deepak Sharma recommend small, realistic changes—maintaining traditional Indian dishes while improving preparation, avoiding sweets as rewards, encouraging outdoor play, and setting screen-time and sleep limits. They stress that weight alone should not define a child's health and that any medication or surgery must be prescribed by qualified professionals after lifestyle measures prove insufficient. Schools and communities are also urged to create more opportunities for movement, reinforcing the home-based efforts.
