Key facts
- Prescriptions for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs among U.S. children under 12 increased more than 300-fold between 2019 and June.
- The study, using electronic health records, found prescription rates rose from 0.03% to 9.3% in the studied age group (8-11 years).
- While not FDA-approved for under-12s, clinical guidelines allow their use for obesity in children as young as eight.
- Most children prescribed these drugs had severe obesity and at least one related health condition.
- Novo Nordisk's Wegovy was the most frequently prescribed medication.
- Disparities in access were noted, with children in higher-income communities being 55% more likely to receive the drugs.
Prescriptions for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have seen a dramatic increase among children under 12 in the U.S., rising more than 300-fold since 2019, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. The research, which analyzed data from over 3.5 million children aged eight to 11 with obesity but without diabetes, found that the prescription rate for these medications climbed from 0.03% in 2019 to 9.3% as of June.
Although GLP-1 agonists like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Saxenda, and Eli Lilly's Zepbound, are not officially approved for children under 12, current clinical guidelines permit their use in certain cases for children as young as eight. The study indicated that 94% of the children receiving these drugs had severe obesity, and approximately 65% had at least one related health issue, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea.
Dr. Babak Orandi, the study's lead investigator, highlighted the rapid acceleration in the use of these drugs among young patients and emphasized the need for ongoing long-term safety monitoring. The research also pointed to emerging disparities in access, with children residing in higher-income communities being 55% more likely to be prescribed these treatments. Co-author Allan Massie stressed the responsibility of physicians and policymakers to ensure that these valuable, and often expensive, treatments become more accessible to a wider population beyond those with comprehensive health insurance and the ability to afford private pediatric care.