Obese teenagers can safely be given weight-loss drugs and undergo bariatric surgery, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

The recommendations form part of the first set of global guidelines released by the WHO for the treatment of obese children and adolescents.

Previously, the WHO only recommended weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy and bariatric surgery, which alters the stomach and reduces appetite, for the treatment of obese adults – defined as someone with a body mass index of 30 or above.

However, the new guidelines say children over the age of 10 can safely be given the drugs, as well as undergo weight-loss surgery, if all other options, like managed exercise and diet programmes, have been exhausted.…