Growing use of GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound among children reflects a shift towards early medical intervention for obesity, raising hopes and concerns over safety, access, and long-term effects.
For some parents, the decision to put a child on a GLP-1 medicine is less about appearance than about trying to interrupt a health problem before it hardens into adulthood.
Jenna Ceriani, a mother from the Boston area, said her son had already developed sleep apnoea, undergone surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids and been told repeatedly to lose weight. By the time he was 10, she said, he weighed 155 pounds and was removed from youth football because of safety concerns. After years of consultations with specialists and growing frustration, the family turned to a GLP-1 drug, a class that includes Wegovy and Zepbound and was originally known for treating adults with obesity. Ceriani also said her 14-year-old daughter began treatment because of food preoccupation and other metabolic concerns.
The move reflects a broader shift in paediatric obesity care. Specialists cited by The Post said the aim is increasingly to treat obesity as a chronic medical condition rather than a matter of discipline or willpower. Anna Trepekli, co-founder of the virtual paediatric obesity clinic Hey Nouri, said children referred to her practice often have obesity alongside other conditions that need treatment. Shaista Safder, a paediatric obesity specialist at Orlando Health, said early intervention matters because some young patients are already developing fatty liver disease and other complications that can become irreversible.
Research suggests the pool of potential patients is large, even if treatment remains uncommon. Yale researchers estimate that nearly 17 million adolescents and young adults in the United States aged 12 to 25 meet current criteria for GLP-1 therapy. Yet a recent JAMA Pediatrics study of more than 2 million adolescents with obesity found that fewer than 1% had received a prescription, with cost and insurance coverage among the main barriers. A review from Cochrane said weight-loss medicines may produce only modest reductions in body mass index in children and adolescents, while also underscoring the need for more evidence on long-term effects and harms.
Doctors supporting the approach say the benefits can reach beyond the scale. Trepekli said many families arrive after trying diet changes, counselling and sports programmes, and that medication can create a window for children to build healthier habits. She and other clinicians say some young patients report greater confidence and less distress around food. But other doctors remain uneasy. Amanda Kahn, a longevity medicine specialist who prescribes GLP-1 drugs to adults, said children are a more vulnerable group because their hormones, brains and bodies are still changing. She and other critics point to open questions about puberty, development and the drugs’ effects on reward pathways.
The debate also includes practical concerns about safety and access. A paediatric guide from Lurie Children’s Hospital notes that GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide and liraglutide are approved for adolescents aged 12 and older, usually alongside lifestyle changes. A separate review in the journal Children highlighted both the promise of GLP-1 drugs and the risks of compounded versions that are not FDA-approved, while UCLA Health said doctors have not identified unique risks in young people but still stress careful monitoring. For parents like Ceriani and one Pennsylvania mother who asked to remain anonymous, the calculation is personal: they say they are not chasing cosmetic weight loss, but trying to protect their children’s health before obesity and its complications become permanent.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
