GLP-1 Use Rises Sharply Among U.S. Children Under 12 as Doctors Seek New Obesity Treatments

The use of GLP-1 medications among children younger than 12 has increased dramatically in the United States, according to a new study examining prescription patterns among millions of children with obesity.

Researchers found that prescriptions for GLP-1 medications among children between the ages of 8 and 11 increased more than 300-fold between 2019 and June 2026. The findings highlight a growing debate over how doctors should treat obesity in younger children, particularly those with severe obesity and other health problems linked to excess weight.

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, examined more than 3.5 million children between the ages of 8 and 11 who had obesity but did not have diabetes. According to the researchers, the share receiving GLP-1 medications increased from just 0.03 percent in 2019 to 9.3 percent by June.

Although GLP-1 medications are not currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for children younger than 12 for weight management, clinical guidelines can allow their use in certain circumstances for children as young as 8. The growing number of prescriptions therefore reflects an expanding role for these medications in the treatment of severe childhood obesity.

Severe obesity common among children receiving treatment

The researchers found that most of the children receiving GLP-1 medications had particularly serious weight-related health concerns.

Approximately 94 percent of the children prescribed the medications had severe obesity. Around 65 percent also had at least one condition associated with obesity, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure or sleep apnea.

These findings suggest that physicians are not simply turning to GLP-1 medications for children with mild weight concerns. Instead, prescriptions are increasingly being considered for children facing more significant health risks associated with obesity.

Dr. Babak Orandi, an obesity medicine specialist at NYU Langone Health and the study's lead investigator, said that although the overall number of young children receiving GLP-1 treatment remains relatively small, the speed of the increase is notable.

The findings point to a significant shift in the way physicians may approach childhood obesity, particularly as newer medications become more widely recognized as potential tools for weight management.

Wegovy among the most commonly prescribed medications

During the period examined by researchers, 20,282 children received GLP-1 medications.

Novo Nordisk's Wegovy was the medication prescribed most frequently, according to the study. Other drugs identified in the data included Novo Nordisk's Saxenda and Eli Lilly's Zepbound.

GLP-1 medications work through hormonal pathways involved in appetite, blood sugar regulation and digestion. They have become increasingly prominent in the treatment of obesity among adults and older adolescents.

The rapid expansion of their use has also prompted questions about how these medications should be used in younger children, where long-term evidence remains more limited.

Orandi emphasized the importance of continued safety monitoring as physicians gain more experience with these medications in younger patients. Researchers say additional evidence will be important for determining the long-term benefits and potential risks of treatment.

Access to treatment may be unequal

The study also identified a significant difference in prescribing patterns based on the economic characteristics of communities where children lived.

Children living in higher-income communities were 55 percent more likely to receive GLP-1 medications than children living in lower-income communities.

Researchers said the disparity raises concerns about unequal access to emerging obesity treatments. GLP-1 medications can be expensive, and access may depend heavily on insurance coverage, household finances and availability of specialized pediatric care.

Allan Massie, an associate professor of surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and a co-author of the study, said physicians and policymakers need to consider how access to these treatments can be expanded.

The concern is that children who could potentially benefit from treatment may face barriers if their families cannot obtain adequate insurance coverage or access to pediatric obesity specialists.

Why the findings matter

Childhood obesity has become an important public health concern in the United States, particularly when excess weight is accompanied by conditions such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and sleep apnea.

For some children, lifestyle changes involving diet, physical activity and other behavioral approaches may not be sufficient to address severe obesity. The emergence of GLP-1 medications has given physicians another potential treatment option.

However, the increased use of these drugs in children under 12 also raises questions that researchers say will require additional study.

One of the central issues is long-term safety. Because the medications are relatively new as obesity treatments, researchers continue to study how prolonged use may affect younger patients as they grow and develop.

Another issue involves determining which children are most likely to benefit from treatment and how medication should be combined with nutritional guidance, physical activity and other forms of medical care.

The new study does not establish that GLP-1 medications are appropriate for every child with obesity. Instead, it provides evidence that prescriptions are increasing rapidly among a specific group of younger patients.

Researchers used a large health records database

To examine prescribing trends, researchers used Epic Cosmos, a large electronic health records database containing information from more than 300 million patients in the United States.

The database allowed researchers to examine prescription patterns across a substantial population of children. Epic did not participate in the study, according to the information provided by the researchers.

Large health records databases can provide valuable information about real-world medical practice, particularly when studying trends that may be difficult to capture through individual clinical trials.

At the same time, observational studies based on medical records have limitations. Prescription data can show how frequently medications are being used, but they do not necessarily establish how effective a treatment was for each individual child or whether a particular medication directly caused a health outcome.

A growing conversation around childhood obesity treatment

The sharp increase in GLP-1 prescriptions among children under 12 reflects the changing landscape of obesity treatment in the United States.

For doctors treating children with severe obesity, the availability of medications that can influence appetite and weight may offer another option when traditional approaches have not produced sufficient results.

But the expansion of treatment also makes careful medical oversight increasingly important. Researchers say continued monitoring will be needed to better understand the long-term safety and effectiveness of GLP-1 medications in younger children.

The study's findings also underscore the importance of ensuring that access to treatment does not depend solely on a family's financial circumstances or location.

As prescriptions continue to increase, pediatric specialists, researchers and policymakers will likely face difficult questions about when these medications should be used, which children should receive them and how doctors can balance potential benefits with the need for long-term safety evidence.

For parents, decisions about weight-loss medications for children should be made with a qualified pediatric healthcare professional who can evaluate the child's individual health, development and medical needs.

Source: Reuters report on a study published in Pediatrics, based on research using the Epic Cosmos electronic health records database.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. GLP-1 medications may have different approvals, age requirements, risks and prescribing guidelines depending on the specific drug and patient. Parents and caregivers should consult a qualified healthcare professional before considering any medication for a child. The information presented here reflects the study and source material available at the time of writing and should not be interpreted as a recommendation to use weight-loss medication in children.