A recent study highlights potential nutritional downsides for children prescribed GLP-1 therapies for obesity or diabetes, emphasising the need for proactive dietary support amid increasing use of these medications.
A new study suggests that children prescribed GLP-1 medicines for obesity or diabetes may face a nutritional downside that is easy to miss. Researchers at Northwestern University and colleagues reviewed U.S. insurance claims for young people aged 10 to 17 who started one of these drugs and found that about 17% were later diagnosed with a nutrient deficiency or a related complication within a year. Vitamin D deficiency was the most common problem, followed by nutritional anaemia and iron-deficiency anaemia.
The findings add to growing concern about how these medicines affect developing bodies. GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, can curb appetite and slow digestion, which may make it harder for some patients to get enough essential nutrients. Harvard Health and WebMD have both highlighted similar concerns in adult users, including possible shortfalls in vitamin D, calcium and vitamin B12.
The study cannot prove the medicines caused the deficiencies, and the researchers note that the data come from a period before these drugs were as widely used in children as they are now. Even so, the authors argue that the results point to a gap in care: only a small share of the young patients in the study received dietary counselling soon after starting treatment. Justin Ryder, a study author at Northwestern, said in a statement from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago that doctors should focus on proactive nutritional management rather than waiting until a deficiency appears.
The concern comes as paediatric use of GLP-1 therapy is becoming more common. The American Academy of Paediatrics recommended these drugs for childhood obesity in 2023, while also stressing the need for nutritional support alongside treatment. That balance is likely to matter even more as doctors weigh the benefits of weight-loss medicines against the risks of reduced intake during a period of rapid growth.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
