Semaglutide helps 4 in 10 children with obesity lose weight, move below limit in new trial

A new trial by Novo Nordisk shows that a drug called semaglutide helped four out of every ten children with obesity lose weight and drop below the obesity threshold after just 68 weeks. The trial, called STEP Young, included 165 children aged 6 to 12 years old. Forty percent of the children who took semaglutide moved below the obesity threshold, compared to none in the placebo group.

The drug was also studied alongside lifestyle changes, like eating less and exercising more. More than 85% of the children in the study had class II or class III severe obesity at the beginning. Obesity in children is measured by age and sex-specific BMI percentiles, because children are still growing. Childhood obesity is a concern because it can lead to health problems early in life, including conditions like high blood pressure, depression, eating disorders, and bullying.

It can also persist into adulthood. The trial, which was randomised, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, found that the safety and tolerability of semaglutide were similar to previous studies in both children and adults. No new safety concerns were found, including those related to growth or puberty. Martin Holst Lange, from Novo Nordisk, said the company is encouraged by the results and believes semaglutide, when combined with lifestyle changes, could help children who need medical treatment to manage their obesity.