WHO

New WHO Guidelines on Obesity in Children and Adolescents

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published new guidelines for the integrated management of obesity in children and adolescents, outlining a people-centred approach to care through primary healthcare.

The guidelines come at a time when childhood and adolescent obesity continues to rise globally. Between 1990 and 2022, obesity prevalence among 5–19-year-olds increased from 1.7% to 6.9% among girls and from 2.1% to 9.3% among boys.

The recommendations emphasise structured support combining healthy eating, physical activity and behaviour-change interventions, tailored to each young person and taking into account mental wellbeing, quality of life and family needs. WHO also highlights the importance of respectful communication to help reduce stigma.

The guidelines take a cautious approach to medical treatment. Pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery are not recommended for children under 10. For adolescents, these approaches may be considered in specific circumstances, alongside structured lifestyle interventions and within specialist multidisciplinary care.

WHO also stresses that treatment alone cannot reverse the global obesity epidemic, highlighting the importance of broader action to create healthier food and physical activity environments.

The new guidelines provide an important resource for healthcare professionals, policymakers and others working in childhood and adolescent nutrition and health.

Read the WHO guidelines

Rome Nutrition Week 2026

UN-Nutrition will convene Rome Nutrition Week 2026 from 25–28 May at FAO Headquarters in Rome and online, under the theme “Shaping the Future of Joint Nutrition Action in a Changing World.”

The annual event brings together UN agencies, governments, researchers and partners to strengthen collaboration and accelerate progress on global nutrition challenges. Building on previous editions, the 2026 week will serve as a key platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and coordinated action, emphasising the need for integrated, cross-sector approaches to address malnutrition in all its forms. 

Participants are invited to contribute to a dynamic programme of thematic sessions, showcasing country experiences, practical solutions and evidence of what works. The event aims to highlight effective strategies, foster partnerships and align efforts across food systems, health, climate and development agendas. 

Rome Nutrition Week continues to position nutrition at the centre of sustainable development, recognising its critical role across the Sustainable Development Goals. By convening diverse stakeholders, the 2026 edition will help drive more coherent and impactful action, ensuring that global and country-level efforts are better connected and more responsive to emerging challenges in a rapidly changing world. 

For more information, please visit https://www.unnutrition.org/rome-nutrition-week-2026.

World Obesity Day 2026 Online Event

On World Obesity Day 2026 (4 March), the Global Obesity Coalition is hosting a critical online event titled “8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity”. The message is clear: with more than 8 billion people on the planet, we all have a part to play in addressing the global obesity crisis.

The focus this year is childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is rising at an alarming pace, with rates among school-aged children climbing from about 4% in 1975 to nearly 20% in 2022, espeically in low- and middle-income countries. Obesity in childhood often persists into adulthood, increasing the risk of serious non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.

This online event will share new data from the World Obesity Federation’s 2026 Atlas on childhood obesity, spotlighting trends, inequities, and the urgent need for systemic action. The campaign also calls for a shift away from stigma and individual blame toward evidence-based policies, accountable nultisectoral solutions, and meaningful participation from governments, youth leaders, and people with lived experience. It highlights the importance of prevention, care, and health equity for all.

Online Event Details

  • Date: 4 March 2026 (World Obesity Day)
  • Time: 12 – 1:30 pm (UTC)
  • Host: Global Obesity Coalition (World Obesity Federation, World Health Organization, and UNICEF).
  • Register here.

Malnutrition rates reach alarming levels in Gaza, WHO warns

On 27th July 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the alarm over soaring malnutrition rates in Gaza, reporting 74 deaths this year, with 63 in July, including 24 children under five.

In Gaza City, 1 in 5 children under five is acutely malnourished. Malnutrition rates have tripled in some areas since June. Over 5000 children were treated for malnutrition in just the first half of July, with 18% suffering from severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form.

Only four treatment centres remain operational and are struggling with limited supplies. Over 40% of pregnant and breastfeeding women are severely malnourished.

Since late May, 1060 people have been killed while trying to access food. WHO calls the crisis preventable and urges unrestricted humanitarian aid access, protection for civilians and an immediate ceasefire.

For more details, visit the official WHO website.

Science Summit 2025: Science for a Sustainable Future

This year, the Science Summit will take place from 9th to 26th September, in New York City and online, alongside the 80th UN General Assembly.

This global event brings together scientists, policymakers and innovators to explore how science can drive progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals whilst staying within planetary boundaries.

This year’s theme highlights the critical role of scientific innovation in ensuring Earth’s stability and resilience. It calls for responsible science that respects natural boundaries and prioritises the well-being of people and the planet.

The key themes will focus on : climate health and digital innovation, AI for science and development, indigenous knowledge and equity and youth participation and science diplomacy.

With over 100 sessions, country showcases and global speakers, the Science Summit promotes collaboration across regions, disciplines and sectors. Participation is free and sessions are open to all virtually or in person.

This Science Summit matters as it is a global platform to turn research into real-world solutions for a fairer and greener future.

For more information, check out the Science Summit’s website.

World Food Safety Day: Science in Action

On Saturday 7th June 2025, the world marked World Food Safety Day. This special day highlighted the critical importance of safe food and to encourage action at all levels of the food chain. Established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), this international day reminds us that food safety concerns everyone.

Millions of people fall ill each year due to unsafe food. Foodborne diseases affect individuals of all ages, particularly children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Beyond the health burden, unsafe food threatens economies, agriculture, trade and sustainable development.

World Food Safety Day is an important way of :

  • Making people aware of food safety issues;
  • Demonstrating how to prevent illness through food safety;
  • Discussing collaborative approaches to improved food safety across sectors;
  • Promoting solutions and ways of being more food safe.

This year’s theme emphasised the pivotal role of science by ensuring the safety of our food supply. From microbiology and toxicology to food technology and risk analysis, science provides the necessary tools and knowledge to detect and control contaminants, understand how foodborne pathogens spread, develop policies based on risk assessments, innovate safer food production, improve packaging and transport, build early-warning systems and traceability solutions.

Food safety is a shared responsibility. Governments must implement and enforce food safety regulations based on scientific evidence. Farmers and producers need to use good agricultural and hygienic practices. Food industries must apply food safety management systems such as HACCP which stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. Finally, consumers can contribute by storing, cooking and handling food at home. All of these elements show that everyone has a role to play in the food chain.

Sciences continues to evolve, bringing with it new ways to reduce food risks and protect global health. This year, throughout World Food Safety Day proved that science plays a vital role in the food we eat. This is why it’s important to ensure that safe food is available for all, everywhere.

For more information, please check out this document!

WHO 78th World Health Assembly

The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO). This Assembly marks a significant chapter in global health diplomacy. It underscores the importance of international collaboration in addressing global health challenges. Delegates from all WHO member states convene to address pressing health challenges and reinforce international cooperation.

The main functions of the World Health Assembly are:

  • To determine the policies of the Organisation;
  • Appoint the Director-General (Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus);
  • To supervise financial policies;
  • To review and approve the proposed programme budget.

The 78th World Health Assembly took place from 19th May to 27th May 2025 in Geneva (Switzerland). This year’s Health Assembly theme is “One World for Health”.

The key outcomes of this event were:

  • Global Health Strategy 2025–2028: WHA endorsed a comprehensive plan to promote, provide and protect health and well-being for all people. This strategy focuses on building resilient health systems, advancing universal health coverage and addressing the social determinants of health;
  • Climate Change and Health: WHA recognised the escalating threat caused by climate change, the Assembly adopted a resolution to prioritise climate-resilient health systems;
  • Health Emergency Preparedness: Member states agreed to continue negotiations on a global pandemic agreement to improve international coordination and equity in preventing, preparing for, and responding to future pandemics;
  • Mental Health in Emergencies: A resolution was passed to integrate mental health and psychosocial support into health emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts. The aim of this is to address the psychological distress experienced by individuals affected by emergencies.

As the world continues to navigate complex health issues, the outcomes of the 78th WHA serve as a reminder of the need for inclusive, equitable and collaborative approaches to global health governance.

For more information, please check out WHO website.

WHO News: Countries achieve consensus on historic pandemic agreement

On April 16, 2025, after more than three years of negotiations, World Health Organization (WHO) member states reached a significant milestone by concluding discussions on a draft pandemic agreement aimed at bolstering global preparedness for future health emergencies. This legally binding accord seeks to address shortcomings exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic by enhancing international coordination and resilience against emerging pathogens.

Key elements of the draft include the establishment of a pathogen access and benefit-sharing system, the diversification of global research capacities, and the creation of a robust global supply chain and logistics network. The agreement also emphasises the importance of strengthening health systems’ readiness. This agreement is viewed as a significant victory for multilateral cooperation and the global health body.

The final proposal will be discussed at the World Health Assembly in May. For comprehensive details on the draft pandemic agreement, please refer to the official WHO announcement.

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World Health Day 2025: Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures

World Health Day, celebrated on 7 April 2025, will kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health. The campaign, titled Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures, will urge governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being.

WHO and partners will also share useful information to support healthy pregnancies and births, and better postnatal health.
 

Helping every woman and baby survive and thrive

This task is critical. Tragically, based on currently published estimates, close to 300 000 women lose their life due to pregnancy or childbirth each year, while over 2 million babies die in their first month of life and around 2 million more are stillborn. That’s roughly 1 preventable death every 7 seconds.

Based on current trends, a staggering 4 out of 5 countries are off track to meet targets for improving maternal survival by 2030. 1 in 3 will fail to meet targets for reducing newborn deaths.
 

Listening to women and supporting families

Women and families everywhere need high quality care that supports them physically and emotionally, before, during and after birth.

Health systems must evolve to manage the many health issues that impact maternal and newborn health. These not only include direct obstetric complications but also mental health conditions, noncommunicable diseases and family planning.

Read the key messages

“The health of mothers and babies is the foundation of healthy families and communities, helping ensure hopeful futures for us all.”

Explore free courses to enhance maternal and newborn health

What Are Healthy Diets?

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) have just published a joint statement titled “What are healthy diets?”.

Healthy diets contribute to health, growth, and development, support active lifestyles, prevent both nutrient deficiencies and excesses, protect against communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), reduce foodborne illnesses, and promote overall well-being. The specific composition of a healthy diet varies according to individual traits, personal preferences, cultural context, locally accessible foods, and traditional dietary practices. However, the foundational principles of healthy diets are consistent. In this document, the FAO and the WHO outline these principles, supported by guidelines and standards established by both organizations. These principles serve as a foundation for developing policies to improve diets and for evaluating diet healthfulness.

Access the full report here.