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Kids' Weight Drug Use Surges Over 300-Fold
5 Sep
Summary
- Prescriptions for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in children under 12 rose over 300-fold since 2019.
- Most children on these drugs had severe obesity and related health issues.
- Access disparities suggest higher-income communities are more likely to receive these medications.
Prescriptions for GLP-1 weight-loss medications among U.S. children under 12 have seen a dramatic increase, rising over 300-fold since 2019. This surge indicates a growing trend in seeking effective obesity treatments for younger populations. A study analyzing over 3.5 million children aged 8-11 with obesity found that GLP-1 prescription rates climbed from a minimal 0.03% in 2019 to 9.3% as of June.
While these drugs are not formally approved for children under 12, clinical guidelines permit their use for obesity in children as young as eight under specific circumstances. Notably, 94% of children prescribed these drugs had severe obesity, and approximately 65% had co-existing conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea.
Despite the increasing use, the absolute number of children under 12 on GLP-1 treatment remains relatively low. Experts emphasize the need for continued long-term safety monitoring. Concerns have also been raised about equitable access, as children in higher-income communities were 55% more likely to be prescribed these medications, highlighting potential emerging disparities in healthcare access for these costly treatments.
