WHO declares weight loss jabs safe for obese teenagers – what it means for the UK

**Lead**

The World Health Organization has announced that weight loss injections, specifically GLP-1 receptor agonists, are safe for use in obese teenagers, a landmark decision that could reshape adolescent obesity treatment in the United Kingdom. The announcement, made during a virtual press conference from Geneva on Wednesday, follows a comprehensive review of clinical trial data and real-world evidence from several countries, including the UK. While the WHO does not directly regulate prescribing practices, its endorsement carries significant weight for national health bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the NHS, which are already grappling with rising rates of childhood obesity.

**Context**

Obesity among British teenagers has reached alarming levels. According to the latest NHS Digital data, nearly one in four children aged 10 to 11 in England are classified as obese, with rates even higher in deprived areas. For years, treatment options for adolescents have been limited to lifestyle interventions – diet, exercise, and behavioural therapy – which often yield modest and unsustainable results. Bariatric surgery, while effective, is rarely offered to under-18s due to its invasive nature and long-term risks.

The WHO’s announcement focuses on a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which include semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy and Ozempic) and liraglutide (Saxenda). These medications work by mimicking a hormone that regulates appetite and slows gastric emptying, leading to significant weight loss. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, they have been used off-label for weight management in adults for several years. In 2022, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved semaglutide for adolescents aged 12 and above, but uptake has been cautious due to lingering safety concerns.

The WHO review examined data from multiple randomised controlled trials involving over 1,500 adolescents aged 12 to 18 with a body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile. The analysis found that participants receiving GLP-1 agonists lost, on average, a clinically meaningful amount of weight compared to those on placebo, with no increase in serious adverse events. Common side effects – nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea – were generally mild to moderate and resolved over time. Crucially, no new safety signals emerged regarding thyroid C-cell tumours or pancreatitis, which had been flagged in earlier animal studies.

**Analysis**

For the UK, the WHO’s endorsement could accelerate the integration of these drugs into standard paediatric obesity care. NICE is currently updating its guidelines on weight management for children and young people, and the WHO’s stamp of approval is likely to influence its final recommendations. If NICE gives the green light, NHS England could begin commissioning GLP-1 agonists for teenagers through specialist weight management services, potentially reaching thousands of young people who have exhausted non-pharmacological options.

However, the decision is not without controversy. Critics argue that medicating adolescents for obesity risks normalising pharmaceutical solutions at the expense of addressing the root causes – poor diet, lack of physical activity, and systemic inequalities. There are also unanswered questions about long-term effects. The WHO review only covered trials lasting up to 68 weeks, leaving uncertainty about the impact of years of drug exposure on developing bodies. Some experts have called for mandatory registries to track outcomes in teenagers who start these treatments.

From a cultural perspective, the announcement reflects a broader shift in how society views obesity – from a personal failing to a chronic medical condition requiring pharmacological intervention. In the UK, where the obesity epidemic costs the NHS an estimated £6 billion annually, the potential to reduce future demand for diabetes, cardiovascular, and joint replacement treatments is enormous. Yet the ethical implications of prescribing powerful appetite suppressants to children, even under medical supervision, will continue to provoke debate among clinicians, parents, and policymakers.

**Fontes**

World Health Organization – official press release and technical report on GLP-1 receptor agonists for adolescents (October 2026). NHS Digital – National Child Measurement Programme data for England, 2025/26. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – approval of semaglutide for adolescents, 2022. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – ongoing guideline update on weight management in children and young people. Peer-reviewed studies referenced in the WHO report include the STEP TEENS trial (semaglutide) and the SCALE Teens trial (liraglutide), published in *The New England Journal of Medicine* and *JAMA Pediatrics* respectively.