Can weight loss drugs like Ozempic treat obesity in children?

Abstract

GLP-1 agonists for weight loss are now commonly used for adults, but might they also be an effective treatment for younger people? Katharine Lang reports Obesity in children and adolescents is a growing problem. In 2022, according to NHS data, 15% of children aged between 2 and 15 were living with obesity in the UK.1 In the US the figure is closer to 20%, or one in five of those aged under 19.2 Untreated obesity in children and adolescents can lead to lifelong health problems, including type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease, as well as mental health problems.34 Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drugs such as liraglutide (Saxenda) and semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) are being hailed as game changers in treating adult obesity, and possibly many other health conditions.5 Could they be equally useful in the treatment of younger people with obesity? Yes, says Julian Hamilton-Shield, professor in diabetes and medical endocrinology at the University of Bristol. “It’s certainly the case that adolescents and children seem to respond to these drugs in the same way that adults do, in that they lose large amounts of weight, it reduces their appetite, and they’re able to leave food on a plate which they have never been able to do before. I would argue that the evidence is, overall, that they are clinically very effective.” GLP-1 agonists are not yet widely available for children and adolescents, however, as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has yet to publish guidance on their use in this age group. NICE told The BMJ that it is “unable to make a recommendation on liraglutide for managing obesity in those aged 12 to 17 because manufacturers Novo Nordisk did not provide an evidence submission.”6 NICE is also …