Weight-loss drug use in kids surged after doctors' recommendation
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Use of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss rose sharply in kids and adolescents after the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2023 recommended offering medications along with lifestyle adjustments such as healthier eating and exercise.
Why it matters: The findings from a review of more than 310,000 patients' health records add fuel to the debate over what age is too young for Wegovy and other GLP-1s.
- While the heavily touted drugs offer opportunities to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity, more studies are needed about the safety of newer versions in order to make informed decisions, the researchers from health data company Truveta and Harvard Medical School wrote.
What they found: Prescribing GLP-1s for weight management in youths ages 8 to 17 increased 65% immediately and another 5% per month following the Academy of Pediatrics guideline release.
- Nutritional counseling showed a smaller, more gradual rise.
- The diabetes drug metformin was the most prescribed medication overall, but its use declined over time while use of semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy— increased substantially, from 2.5% of patients before the guidelines to 26.8%.
- Despite concerns about overuse, rates of drug therapy in kids and adolescents remained low, with fewer than 10% of patients using anti-obesity medications, according to a separate study.
The big picture: Prescribing decisions generally appear to be cautious, with treatments most often targeted at adolescents with more severe obesity, said Tricia Rodriguez, lead author and director of applied research at Truveta.
- But the sharp increase could reflect rising public awareness in anti-obesity medications stoked by social media and direct-to-consumer advertising.
- The researchers noted the high cost of the drugs could still limit effective treatment of early obesity.
