There’s been much debate whether GLP-1 receptor agonists should be given to children to treat obesity, and whether it is even safe to do so. New findings presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) that is happening this week suggest that children with severe obesity are more likely to see a significant reduction in their BMI when GLP-1 receptor agonists are included in their treatment.
What the study showed
To explore the effectiveness of these medications, Dr. Annika Janson, researcher at the National Childhood Obesity Centre, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, and a team of researchers studied their impact when added to an existing intensive treatment program for pediatric obesity.
The study analyzed data from 1,126 children (ages 0-16, about 52% boys) with severe obesity, classified using criteria from the International Obesity Task Force, who were enrolled in the National Childhood Obesity Centre in Stockholm. All participants were undergoing intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT), a comprehensive program that works with families, schools, and other support systems to improve various health-related behaviors, including nutrition, physical activity, screen time, and mental health. A multidisciplinary team typically provides this care.
Starting in 2023, GLP-1 medications — first liraglutide, then semaglutide — were incorporated into treatment for some patients. Approximately 25% of the children in the study were prescribed one of these GLP-1 drugs.
The caveats
The study authors did establish that GLP-1 medications can be given to kids from the age of 12 as “clinical trials have shown children lose 5-16% of their body weight after a year of treatment.” This comes with warnings and call for safety precautions — as it should.
According to Dr. Janson,
[…] treating children in real-life situations has challenges that don’t come up in research studies. Children have varying degrees of obesity, co-morbidities and complications and may have faced problems in supply of the drug, financing it or taking it. As a consequence, it is difficult to isolate the effect of adding GLP-1 drugs to the plethora of treatments that are already available.
This echoes the opinions of another group of researchers that looked into treating pediatric obesity using liraglutide. The study authors said:
This meta-analysis suggests that liraglutide could be a useful therapeutic option in pediatric obesity, especially in patients who have not achieved significant weight reduction with conventional interventions… However, its implementation should be individualized, considering the potential adverse effects, and rigorous monitoring should be carried out to ensure safety.
An added benefit
Dr. Janson’s study also suggests that weight loss injections like liraglutide may also reduce family conflicts around food and mealtime stress. Families reported less tension and fewer arguments around food, with children experiencing less constant hunger and being more open to other lifestyle changes.
Dr. Janson said:
For some children, not always feeling hungry is a completely new experience… While not a solution for every case, GLP-1 medications offer real benefits for many children with severe obesity, and more should have access to them.
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “GLP-1 drugs linked to significant BMI reduction in children with severe obesity,” News Medical, 5/12/25
Source: “Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Liraglutide Treatment in Children Who Are Overweight or Obese: A Therapeutic Paradigm Shift?,” Cureus, 5/8/25
Source: “Weight loss jabs in obese children can help avoid mealtime rows, study says,” The Guardian, 5/12/25
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