Children Under 12 Receiving GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs
An estimated 20,000 children between the ages of 8 and 11 received prescriptions for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists to manage obesity between 2019 and 2026, according to research published in the journal Pediatrics. Cardiovascular Business reported that while the absolute treatment numbers for young children remain low, prescribing rates jumped from 0.03% in 2019 to 9.3% by 2026 among obese children without diabetes.
Study Findings on Pediatric Prescriptions
The analysis specifically tracked three medications: liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide. Novo Nordisk manufactures liraglutide under the brand name Saxenda and semaglutide under Wegovy and Ozempic. Eli Lilly and Company produces tirzepatide under Zepbound and Mounjaro.
Babak J. Orandi, an obesity specialist and transplant surgeon with NYU Langone Health’s NYU Grossman School of Medicine who served as the study’s first author, stated that the research provides the first national overview of GLP-1 usage to address pediatric obesity. Orandi acknowledged parental hesitation regarding medications for young children, noting that the alternative can involve a lifetime of high blood pressure and related health conditions.
Income Disparities in Medication Access
The research also identified a significant geographic and socioeconomic divide in treatment rates. Obese children living in higher-income communities were 55% more likely to receive a prescription for a GLP-1 medication than children with obesity living elsewhere.
Allan B. Massie, a professor with NYU Grossman School of Medicine and co-author of the study, emphasized that healthcare providers and policymakers must ensure equitable access. Massie stated that patients requiring these treatments should be able to obtain them regardless of health insurance coverage or the ability to visit specialized pediatric clinics.
Which Medications Researchers Evaluated and Pediatric Prescribing Rates?
Which specific medications did the researchers evaluate?
The study focused on three specific GLP-1 drugs: liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide. These medications are marketed under brand names including Saxenda, Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, and Mounjaro.
What percentage of children aged 8 to 11 were prescribed these drugs in 2026?
The prescribing rate reached 9.3% among obese children without diabetes in 2026, a sharp increase from 0.03% in 2019.
Who conducted the research on pediatric GLP-1 use?
Researchers at NYU Langone Health’s NYU Grossman School of Medicine authored the study, with Babak J. Orandi and Allan B. Massie serving as lead investigators.
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