7 October 2026. The World Health Organization has published its first guidelines on the integrated management of obesity in children and adolescents through primary health care, launched at an embargoed press briefing on 6 October. The guidelines, developed since 2021 by two Guideline Development Groups and opened to public comment in April 2026, give countries adaptable recommendations on family- and community-based care, diet, physical activity and behavioural support, and the place of medicines and surgery.
The Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG) welcomed the guidelines in a statement published today. “These guidelines matter for Georgia for a simple reason: they put the management of childhood obesity where families actually go — primary health care,” said Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, PHIG’s Chair, adding that whether they change anything in Georgia will depend on primary care competence, the food environment and honesty with families, including protection from weight-loss products marketed to parents.
PHIG said it will publish a Georgian summary of the recommendations, open a free GMJ Academy course for primary care teams, add childhood obesity management to its research agenda, and continue assessing weight-loss products through Sheni Labs and SupplementIndex.
Read the full PHIG statement: https://publichealth.ge/who-launches-guidelines-on-managing-obesity-in-children-and-adolescents-phig-comment/
Sources: WHO Media briefing notice, 6 October 2026; WHO call for public comments on the adolescent obesity guidelines, 10 April 2026; PHIG statement, 7 October 2026. GMJ News is a platform of the Public Health Institute of Georgia; the statement is quoted from the primary source on publichealth.ge.
Was this article helpful?
Disclaimer. This article is health journalism intended for general information and education. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your individual circumstances. Full disclaimer →
Related Coverage
Editorial standards. This article was produced under the GMJ News editorial process, with oversight by the GMJ Editorial Board. Our editorial process. Spotted an error? Contact the editorial team.
