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GLP-1 drugs for obese children surge from rare to 9% of young users in US

Off-label prescriptions of weight-loss drugs to children as young as 8 are rising rapidly, but long-term effects remain unknown.

newest coverage 13h agosummary written 23h ago11 pieces NewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • GLP-1 prescriptions to US children aged 8–11 have surged to 9.3% from near-zero in 2019, driven by clinical evidence of effectiveness and the severity of childhood obesity complications.
  • The drugs are prescribed off-label to children under 12, though only approved for ages 12+; access correlates with family wealth and presence of obesity-related conditions like pre-diabetes and high blood pressure.
  • Long-term risks remain unmapped: nutrient deficiencies, stunted growth, delayed puberty, and effects on bone health and future reproductive function are documented concerns, but the balance of benefit versus harm in severe cases is increasingly viewed as favoring treatment.

“Obesity is a very complex, multifactorial condition with genetic and environmental components, and it's very challenging for a lot of young people and their families to make change.”

Danielle Longmore, Pediatric researcher, Murdoch Children's Research Institute · New Scientist ↗ · Sep 21

Babak Orandi Lead researcher, NYUDanielle Longmore Pediatric researcher, Murdoch Children's Research InstituteNovo Nordisk GLP-1 drug manufacturer

GLP-1 drugs for obese children surge from rare to 9% of young users in US
New Scientist

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

Peak 3 pieces in one hour at Sep 21, 2 PM; 11 pieces over 2 days (11 articles) Sep 21, 2 PM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 3Sep 21, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 3Sep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Sep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Yesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quiet 12
Sep 22yesterdaynow · 12:59 AM ET
  1. 2

    Experts weigh benefits of treating severe childhood obesity against unknown long-term risks

    Pediatric researchers and practitioners are increasingly viewing GLP-1 drugs as potentially less risky than untreated childhood obesity, which is linked to depression, low self-esteem, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and life expectancy cuts of up to 42 years. However, questions remain about the drugs' effects on growth, puberty, bone strength, and future reproductive health.

    “I worry about these kids who are losing lots of weight and muscle – what's going to be the effect on their strength and their bones when they're older?”
    — Danielle Longmore
    1. 1 outlet Should we use GLP-1 drugs to treat obesity in children?

      first by New Scientist, 1d ago

  2. 1

    Novo Nordisk reports 40% of children in trial no longer classified as obese

    Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy, reported that 40% of children aged 6–12 with severe obesity who received weekly injections during a 68-week clinical trial were no longer classified as having obesity, demonstrating clinical effectiveness.

  3. background

    Study links GLP-1 use to nutritional deficiencies in children — Recent research found that GLP-1 medications increase the risk of children developing iron and other nutrient deficiencies due to their reduced food intake during treatment.

  4. background

    NYU study finds GLP-1 use in children has surged to 9.3% — A study led by Babak Orandi at New York University found that 9.3% of US children aged 8–11 with obesity but without diabetes are now prescribed GLP-1 medications, a more than 300-fold increase in seven years. The study also found that richer families and children with obesity-related complications were more likely to receive off-label prescriptions.

  5. background

    GLP-1 prescriptions to children aged 8–11 begin, at negligible rates — The baseline from which recent growth is measured: 0.03% of US children aged 8–11 with obesity were prescribed GLP-1 medications in 2019.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 4 outlets GLP-1s Linked to Nutritional Deficiencies in Teens

    first by Technology Networks, 2d ago · also Google News · Health, Northwestern Now News, Medical Xpress

    2 more headlines
  2. 2 outlets GLP-1 receptor agonists tied to nutritional deficiencies in children, study finds

    first by Contemporary Pediatrics, 1d ago · also The Pharmaceutical Journal

    1 more headline
  3. 2 outlets Use of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Increasing Among Children With Obesity

    first by Pulmonology Advisor, 2d ago · also Lelezard

    1 more headline

and 1 smaller piece