WHO Urges Global Shift to Healthy School Food Environments to Combat Rising Childhood Obesity
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A new guideline from the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for a comprehensive overhaul of school food policies worldwide, aiming to establish healthier eating habits in children and address the growing global crisis of childhood obesity and malnutrition.
The WHO is advocating for a “whole-school approach” – ensuring that all food and beverages available to students, both within cafeterias and throughout the broader school environment, are nutritious and support a healthy diet. This initiative comes as rates of childhood overweight and obesity continue to climb globally, even as undernutrition remains a significant challenge in many regions. Alarmingly, projections for 2025 indicate that approximately 188 million school-aged children and adolescents – roughly one in ten – will be living with obesity, exceeding the number of children suffering from being underweight for the first time.
The Double Burden of Malnutrition
Schools are uniquely positioned to address this “double burden of malnutrition,” as children spend a substantial portion of their day within the school setting. “The food children eat at school, and the environments that shape what they eat, can have a profound impact on their learning, and lifelong consequences for their health and well-being,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. He emphasized that prioritizing nutrition in schools is crucial for preventing future health problems and fostering a healthier adult population.
Currently, an estimated 466 million children worldwide benefit from school meal programs. However, there is a critical lack of comprehensive data regarding the nutritional quality of these meals. This new guidance seeks to fill that gap and provide a framework for improvement.
WHO Recommendations for Healthier School Food
The WHO guideline outlines specific recommendations for schools to improve food provision and promote healthier choices. These include:
- Establishing clear standards and regulations: Increasing the availability and consumption of healthy foods and beverages while simultaneously limiting access to unhealthy options.
- Implementing “nudging” interventions: Utilizing subtle strategies to encourage children to select, purchase, and consume healthier foods. These interventions can involve adjustments to food placement, presentation, or pricing.
The WHO stresses that policy implementation alone is insufficient. Robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are essential to ensure consistent and effective adherence to the guidelines. As of October 2025, data from the WHO Global database on the Implementation of Food and Nutrition Action (GIFNA) reveals that 104 Member States have implemented policies on healthy school food, with nearly three-quarters incorporating mandatory nutritional criteria. However, only 48 countries have policies specifically restricting the marketing of foods high in sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats.
A Collaborative, Evidence-Based Approach
The development of this guideline was a collaborative effort, involving a diverse group of international experts and a rigorous, transparent, evidence-based process. This work is central to the WHO’s broader mission of creating healthy food environments and aligns with global initiatives such as the WHO acceleration plan to stop obesity and the nutrition-friendly schools initiative.
The guideline is designed to be adaptable to both national and local contexts, recognizing the vital role of subnational and city authorities in driving school food initiatives. The WHO will provide technical assistance, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative opportunities to support Member States in adapting and implementing the guideline.
To further disseminate the new guidance, the WHO will host a global webinar on January 27, 2026, from 13:00–14:00 CET. This initiative represents a significant step towards ensuring that schools worldwide become environments that nurture healthy habits and contribute to the well-being of future generations.
