New research presented at the International Congress on Obesity indicates that GLP-1 medications, already used for adult weight management, could help adolescents with obesity, though more extensive studies are needed to assess safety and long-term outcomes.
New evidence suggests that drugs in the GLP-1 class, already widely used in adults for weight loss, can also help some children and teenagers with obesity lose weight, though the long-term picture remains uncertain. Researchers presenting their findings at the International Congress on Obesity in Mexico City said the benefits appear most convincing for adolescents, especially those aged 12 and older, while emphasising that younger children need especially careful consideration.
The review, led by Manpreet Kaur Oberoi of the University of Western Ontario, looked only at randomised trials in children and adolescents with obesity who did not have diabetes. After searching major medical databases through May 2025, the team found that only nine studies met the criteria, involving 756 participants aged 6 to 18. Most were teenagers, and the trials varied widely in size and length, which limits how far the findings can be stretched.
Taken together, the studies showed that GLP-1 treatment improved weight outcomes compared with placebo or standard care. The average difference in body weight was a little more than 5kg, while semaglutide appeared to produce the largest effect in the pooled analysis. A separate systematic review published in 2024 also found semaglutide to be the most effective of the GLP-1 drugs studied in young people, although researchers caution that comparing medicines across different trials is less robust than head-to-head testing. The class works by mimicking a natural hormone released after eating, which helps curb appetite and slow stomach emptying.
The review also found modest improvements in blood pressure and heart rate, and children reported better quality of life. Side effects were broadly in line with what is already known about GLP-1 medicines: nausea was more common, while vomiting and diarrhoea were also reported. Serious complications such as pancreatitis, gallstones and appendicitis were rare, but the small number of children studied means uncommon risks could still have been missed. That is why specialists say the results support cautious use in selected adolescents, not a broad recommendation for all children with obesity, and why larger, longer studies are still needed to understand growth, nutrition, weight regain after stopping treatment and other long-term effects.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
