A new study reveals that nearly 17% of children aged 10 to 17 prescribed GLP-1 medicines for obesity, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes develop nutritional deficiencies within a year, highlighting a critical need for early nutritional support.
Children prescribed GLP-1 medicines for obesity, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes may face a meaningful risk of nutritional shortfalls, with a new study finding that 16.8% were diagnosed with at least one deficiency or related complication within a year of starting treatment. Vitamin D deficiency was the most common finding, affecting 12.4% of the children, according to research published in the journal Childhood Obesity.
The study, led by Justin Ryder of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, reviewed US insurance claims from 2017 to 2022 and identified 2,031 patients aged 10 to 17 who had begun GLP-1 therapy and had no prior recorded nutritional deficiency. The most frequently prescribed drugs in the group were liraglutide, dulaglutide and semaglutide.
Ryder said adolescents are a particular concern because they are still growing and going through puberty, when nutrients such as vitamin D, iron and calcium can have lasting effects on bone health and development. He also said nutritional support should begin when treatment starts, not after a deficiency is diagnosed. Yet the study found only 5% of patients received nutrition counselling within 30 days and fewer than a quarter had done so within six months.
The findings echo earlier adult research. Harvard Health reported in February that a separate review in Clinical Obesity found vitamin D deficiency was also the most common nutrient problem among adults taking GLP-1 drugs, and other reviews have warned that appetite suppression and slower digestion can reduce intake of key nutrients. A systematic review published in Nutrients in May suggested that adding nutrition and behavioural support may help improve outcomes in children and teenagers taking these medicines.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
