A recent review at the International Congress on Obesity indicates that GLP-1 receptor agonists, already transforming adult obesity care, may also effectively assist teenagers in losing weight and improving health markers. The analysis highlights potential benefits, safety considerations, and the need for further research in younger populations.
A review presented at the International Congress on Obesity in Mexico City suggests that GLP-1 medicines, which have reshaped adult obesity care, may also help teenagers with obesity lose weight and improve other health measures. The analysis, led by Dr Manpreet Kaur Oberoi of the University of Western Ontario, pooled evidence from randomised trials of children and adolescents without diabetes and found overall benefits in body weight, blood pressure and some quality-of-life measures.
GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic a hormone released after eating, helping to curb appetite, slow stomach emptying and prolong feelings of fullness. In the review, researchers screened 1,095 records and narrowed them to nine trials involving 756 participants aged 6 to 18. Three studies examined exenatide, five liraglutide and one semaglutide. Across the trials, treatment was linked with better BMI-SDS scores, a child-specific measure that adjusts body mass index for age and sex, as well as an average weight difference of just over 5 kilogrammes compared with placebo or standard care.
The strongest effect appeared in the semaglutide study, although the review cautioned that comparisons across drugs are imperfect because the trials differed in duration, dose and design. The findings are broadly consistent with earlier trial data discussed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, which noted a 68-week semaglutide study showing an approximate 16% fall in BMI and a liraglutide trial showing about a 5% reduction when paired with lifestyle counselling. That review also highlighted a smaller randomised study in children aged 6 to 12 that found liraglutide reduced BMI by about 7% versus placebo, even though no obesity drug is approved for children under 12.
Side effects were generally in line with what is already known about these medicines. Nausea was the most common problem and was about three times more likely in children receiving a GLP-1 drug than in those given placebo. Vomiting and diarrhoea were reported more often in treatment groups, but the combined data did not show a clear statistical increase, while serious events such as pancreatitis, gallstones and appendicitis were uncommon. The researchers said the results support use in selected adolescents aged 12 and older, but they also stressed that longer studies are needed to understand growth, development, nutrition and whether the benefits last after treatment stops.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
