Research reveals an increase in the prescription of weight-loss drugs initially intended for adults, now reaching young children. Conducted by New York University, the study examined trends in prescribing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). Examples include Wegovy, Saxenda, and Zepbound, prescribed to U.S. children aged 8 to 11 with obesity but without diabetes.
Using data from over 3.5 million children in the Epic Cosmos electronic health record network, researchers tracked prescriptions from January 2019 to June 2026. The study highlighted a major increase in GLP-1 prescriptions, jumping from 0.03 percent of eligible children in 2019 to 9.3 percent by 2026. Despite this rise, only 0.6 percent of the 3.52 million children in the study received a prescription.
Interest in GLP-1 medications for treating obesity is growing. Some drugs have FDA approval for adolescents aged 12 and older. However, no medication is FDA-approved for children under 12. Professional guidelines do allow clinicians to consider their use for younger patients in certain circumstances. Researchers suggest physicians reserve these drugs for children with significant health risks. Children receiving GLP-1 prescriptions often had severe obesity or related health conditions, with nearly 94 percent fitting this description, compared to about 52 percent of non-users.
Dr. Babak J. Orandi, lead investigator and obesity medicine specialist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, advises parents to begin with lifestyle changes. “Diet, physical activity and behavioral support are foundational,” Orandi tells Newsweek. “GLP-1s should be an addition, not isolated.” Physicians may consider medication when complications arise from obesity or when lifestyle changes alone are insufficient.
Parents should note when a child shows inadequate improvement or weight-related health issues. This may prompt discussions with a pediatrician. Children facing obesity-related complications often had higher prescription rates. The highest rates appeared in children with prediabetes, hypertension, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, hyperlipidemia, and sleep apnea.
Differences emerged across demographic groups. Older children and girls were more likely to receive these medications. Children in areas with lower social vulnerability had higher prescription rates. These disparities might reflect emerging inequalities in access to obesity treatments. As guidelines increasingly favor early intervention, children from more advantaged backgrounds might benefit disproportionately.
The researchers noted limitations; prescriptions in the study did not confirm medication dispensing or sustained use. The data, while comprehensive, do not cover all U.S. health systems. Concerns remain about the long-term effects of medication use in children. “Preliminary data is reassuring, but further follow-up is vital to clarify risks and benefits,” Orandi adds. He emphasizes weighing unknown risks against the harms of untreated childhood obesity, which can lead to severe health issues.
“Children who manage to reach a healthier weight by adulthood have comparable cardiometabolic risks to peers without obesity, highlighting the reversibility of risk,” Orandi states, supporting treatment for obesity.