Role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in pediatric obesity and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease.

Abstract

This article examines the growing prevalence of pediatric obesity and its connection to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in children and adolescents, focusing on the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in treatment. Pediatric obesity and MASLD present significant long-term health risks, making early intervention crucial. The article reviews the pathophysiology of both pediatric obesity and MASLD, explores current therapeutic strategies, and discusses the emerging role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, such as liraglutide, semaglutide, exenatide, and dulaglutide, in managing obesity, as well as explores current limited pediatric literature on the use of these medications in MASLD.