More children under 12 in U.S. are being prescribed weight-loss drugs, study finds

Prescriptions for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs among U.S. children under 12 have surged over 300 times since 2019, according to a new study. The rise in prescriptions, from 0.03% in 2019 to 9.3% as of June, comes as doctors search for effective treatments for younger patients with obesity. Though these drugs aren't officially approved for use in children under 12, clinical guidelines permit their use in cases of obesity in children as young as eight years old.

Ninety-four percent of the children prescribed GLP-1 drugs had severe obesity, and about 65% had additional conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. Most of the prescriptions were for Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, with Novo's Saxenda and Eli Lilly's Zepbound also used. Despite the low absolute numbers, the study reveals a swift acceleration in GLP-1 treatment use.

Lead investigator Dr. Babak Orandi of NYU Langone Health emphasized the need for long-term safety monitoring to ensure the drugs' continued safety and efficacy. Data from the study, published in the journal Pediatrics, shows higher-income communities are 55% more likely to see children prescribed these medications, hinting at emerging disparities in access.

Both physicians and health policymakers must ensure these valuable, albeit costly, treatments are available to more than just those with health insurance and the means to visit pediatric clinics, according to study co-author Allan Massie, an associate professor of surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.