Liraglutide Treatment Improves Glycaemic Dysregulation, Body Composition, Cardiometabolic Variables and Uncontrolled Eating Behaviour in Adolescents with Severe Obesity

Abstract

Objective: Childhood obesity is associated with long-term health complications. Liraglutide is approved for use in adolescents for weight loss and has shown beneficial outcomes in clinical trials. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is widely used in type 1 diabetes mellitus. To look at the effect of liraglutide treatment on cardiometabolic variables, glycaemic control (as assessed by CGM), body composition, quality-of-life and satiety levels in adolescents with severe obesity.

Methods: Patients aged 12 to 17.9 years were commenced on liraglutide in addition to lifestyle support. Pediatric Quality of Life 4.0 generic scale and Three-factor Eating Questionnaire R18 were completed at baseline and after 3-months.

Results: Twenty-four subjects (10 male: 14 female) took part. Significant improvements in weight, body mass index (BMI), BMI standard deviation scores, percentage body fat and fat mass following liraglutide treatment. A significant reduction in glycated haemoglobin, triglyceride and cholesterol levels, as well as a reduction in uncontrolled eating behaviour were observed. The time spent within normal glucose range (3.9-7.8 mmol/L; 70.2-140.4 mg/dL) was lower than in healthy peers (91.76% vs. 97.00%) at baseline but improved after liraglutide treatment. The cohort reported lower health-related quality-of-life scores and exhibited more uncontrolled eating and emotional eating behaviours, compared to the healthy population.

Conclusion: We report, for the first time, the role of CGM in identifying glycaemic dysregulation in children and young people with obesity before and after liraglutide treatment. The results have shown significant potential for liraglutide treatment in improving outcomes. Earlier identification of glycaemic dysregulation and targeted therapy could potentially reduce the long-term risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.