US prescriptions for weight-loss drugs in children under 12 surge 300-fold

Prescriptions for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs among American children under 12 have climbed more than 300-fold since 2019, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. The research, based on data from over 3.5 million children aged 8 to 11 with obesity but not diabetes, found that the share receiving these medications rose from 0.03% in 2019 to 9.3% by June 2024.

Although these drugs are not formally approved for children under 12, clinical guidelines permit their use for obesity in children as young as eight in specific cases. The study found that 94% of the children prescribed GLP-1 drugs had severe obesity, and about 65% had at least one related condition such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea.

Overall, 20,282 children received GLP-1 medications during the study period, most commonly Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, with Saxenda and Eli Lilly's Zepbound also prescribed. Lead investigator Dr. Babak Orandi of NYU Langone Health noted that while absolute numbers remain low, the pace of adoption is accelerating rapidly, underscoring the need for long-term safety monitoring.

The study also highlighted a disparity: children from higher-income communities were 55% more likely to receive these prescriptions. Co-author Allan Massie of NYU Grossman School of Medicine stressed that physicians and policymakers must ensure these valuable, often costly treatments reach beyond those with good insurance and clinic access.

Data for the study came from Epic Cosmos, a national electronic health records database covering over 300 million US patients; Epic had no role in the research.