{
  "id": 3729611,
  "title": "Fighting childhood obesity: Researchers study semaglutide with adolescents",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/fighting-childhood-obesity-researchers-study-semaglutide-with",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-27T12:00:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-childhood-obesity-semaglutide-adolescents.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kentucky ranks among the top states with the highest childhood obesity rates, leading researchers at the University of Kentucky to initiate a pioneering clinical trial aimed at determining if medical intervention can reverse early signs of heart disease in severely obese children. The MODERN study focuses on the medication semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which is not only used for adult weight management but also for its potential to mitigate the physical damage obesity inflicts on a developing heart. Led by John Bauer, vice chair of research and a professor of pediatrics, and Aurelia Radulescu, an associate professor of pediatrics and medical director of the UK Pediatric BMI Clinic, the study specifically targets adolescents. Established in 2008 by Radulescu, the UK Pediatric BMI Clinic serves as a medical home for children struggling with obesity across the state, receiving up to 1,000 new referrals annually.\n\nThe clinic specializes in screening for the various diseases and conditions exacerbated by obesity in children and offers comprehensive management, including cardiology, for these patients. Semaglutide has been proven safe and effective in children aged 12–18 since its FDA approval in 2022, yet it comes with known side effects. The research team provides extensive family education and support, along with low-dose administration of the drug and regular monitoring of outcomes. Treatment decisions should involve thorough discussions with the family, with an emphasis on the risks and benefits, and only when clinically necessary based on appropriate screenings. Although GLP-1 medications have been in use for adults for over a decade, their long-term effects in pediatric use are still being studied due to their FDA approval only in 2022. Initial concerns about potential links to cancer have largely been dispelled by long-term clinical trials in adults, though cautious protocols are maintained at UK HealthCare to ensure patient safety. The team at the UK Pediatric BMI Clinic is particularly vigilant, excluding patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 before prescribing semaglutide. Despite the known severe health risks associated with untreated childhood obesity—including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease—the practice of watchful waiting is no longer recommended due to the potential for severe disease progression. The MODERN study aims to focus on the structure and function of the heart rather than just the number on the scale, as children with severe obesity often exhibit thicker heart walls and larger chambers, increasing their risk of cardiovascular issues.",
  "summary": "Kentucky has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the country, and the health consequences carry forward throughout life. That's one of the reasons researchers at the University of Kentucky are leading a groundbreaking clinical trial to determine whether medical intervention can reverse the early signs of heart disease in children struggling with severe obesity.",
  "key_points": [
    "University of Kentucky launches clinical trial on semaglutide for obese adolescents.",
    "Study led by John Bauer and Aurelia Radulescu at UK Pediatric BMI Clinic.",
    "Semaglutide approved for teens in 2022, but long-term pediatric effects studied."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}