Use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs among U.S. children under 12 is rising sharply

Use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs among U.S. children under 12 is rising sharply

A new study has found that prescriptions for GLP-1 medicines among U.S. children aged 8–11 with obesity have increased approximately 310-fold since 2019.

📊 Researchers analyzed data from more than 3.5 million children with obesity who did not have diabetes. Between 2019 and 2026, 20,282 children received prescriptions for GLP-1 medicines.

Among children prescribed these treatments:

🔹 nearly 94% had severe obesity;

🔹 more than 65% had at least one obesity-related condition, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure or sleep apnea.

GLP-1 medicines act on biological pathways involved in appetite and metabolism. Drugs recorded in the study included Wegovy, Saxenda and Zepbound.

⚠️ GLP-1 medicines are currently not FDA-approved for weight management in children under 12. However, clinical guidelines may allow pharmacological treatment of obesity from the age of eight in certain cases.

Researchers stress that as GLP-1 use among younger children continues to increase, long-term monitoring of their safety and effectiveness remains essential.

Source: Reuters / Pediatrics