As the popularity of GLP-1 medications to support weight loss in adults surges, it’s not surprising that there’s also been a spike in the use of these drugs in teens.
Prescriptions of the GLP-1 drug Wegovy for teens were up 50 percent last year, according to a review released earlier this month from health data firm Truveta in collaboration with Reuters.
The company reviewed health records of 1.3 million children ages 12 to 17 across 30 health systems in the U.S., including over 900 hospitals. The average rate of first-time prescriptions was 15 in every 100,000 teens in 2024, up from 9.9 in 2023. (The review did not include GLP-1 drugs Ozempic or Zepbound as these medications are not FDA-approved for use in teens.)
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Despite the jump in the number of teens being prescribed Wegovy, it still represents only a small fraction of kids who are living with obesity. Approximately one in 5 children and teens in the U.S. are considered obese, according to the CDC. That means they have a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex.
And this number may be on the rise: As many as a third of all children and teens globally may be overweight or obese by 2050, according to a recent analysis in The Lancet.
How Wegovy Works
Wegovy is a brand name for the injected medication semaglutide. It’s a type of GLP-1 drug—also known as a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist—that can help control blood sugar in people with Type-2 diabetes and help treat obesity.
In the body, it works similarly to the small intestine hormone GLP-1: It can slow digestion, help you feel full, and limit the amount of blood sugar in your bloodstream. The FDA approved Wegovy to treat obesity in children 12 and over in 2022. Common side effects include GI issues like nausea, diarrhea, or stomach pain.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports the use of weight-loss medications as a treatment option for children 12 and over who are considered obese, with a BMI that is at or over the 95th percentile, and who may have related health issues. Obesity is associated with a higher risk of health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma. Teens living with obesity are also more likely to be obese as adults.
“Some of the medications have been transformative to patients. With semaglutide, we are seeing quite substantial body mass index (BMI) reduction like we’ve never seen before,” Claudia Fox, M.D., M.P.H., co-director and fellowship program director at the Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School said in AAP News last year.
Access to these medications can be an issue, however, as insurance may not cover the cost, and many families don’t have comprehensive health coverage. There is also the concern that these are relatively new medications and possible long-term effects aren’t yet known.
What To Know About Weight-Loss Medications for Teens
If you’re concerned about your teen’s weight, talk to your child’s health care provider. There are a range of lifestyle changes to explore before a GLP-1 or other type of weight-loss medication, such as a healthier diet and increased physical activity.
GLP-1 drugs are generally only recommended for teens who have severe obesity, and are recommended for use together with healthy changes to diet and exercise. It’s also important to be sure your child is getting enough sleep and to understand if your child’s weight might be compounded by a mental health issue such as anxiety or depression. But for teens with obesity who have not been able to lose weight through other methods, medication may be the right choice.
“When young patients with obesity use these medications and experience effective weight loss, it has a significant impact on their lives,” Vibha Singhal, MD, MPH, DABOM, director of Pediatric Obesity at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and associate professor of Pediatrics at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, said in UCLA Health News. “They are healthier, can move more quickly, are more motivated to make healthy lifestyle changes…and overall are more confident.”
