Prescriptions for GLP-1 medications among children ages 8 to 11 with obesity have risen sharply, according to a study published in Pediatrics. The finding has drawn attention to a difficult question for families and clinicians: When a child has serious obesity-related health concerns, how should they weigh a promising treatment against limited evidence for children who are still growing?
Researchers examined electronic health records for more than 3.5 million children ages 8 to 11 with obesity and without diabetes. Across the study period, 0.6% received a GLP-1 prescription. The reported prescribing rate rose from 0.03% in 2019 to 9.3% in 2026, a 310-fold increase. The large relative increase needs context: Prescriptions remained uncommon across the full study population. NYU Langone Health’s summary of the study reports that 20,282 children in this age group received a prescription during the seven-and-a-half-year period.
“I think it is a meaningful shift,” said Sarah C. Armstrong, M.D., a professor of pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine and Chief, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, in Durham, NC. The rise suggests that some families and clinicians are considering medication before age 12, particularly when a child has severe obesity or related health problems. It does not, by itself, show that routine use in younger children is appropriate.
What does “off-label” mean for a child under 12?
A clinician may prescribe a medication off-label for a use outside its FDA-approved labeling. For obesity treatment, medications such as Saxenda and Wegovy are approved for eligible adolescents beginning at age 12, but not for general weight management in children ages 8 to 11.
Dr. Armstrong describes treatment below that age as “an exceptional, highly individualized decision rather than routine care.” A clinician considering it would need to discuss the limited evidence with the family, assess the child’s other health conditions and treatment history, and arrange close follow-up with professionals experienced in pediatric obesity care.
What does the research tell us about safety?
Evidence for younger children is emerging, but it differs by medication. A clinical trial of daily liraglutide in children ages 6 to 11 found improvement in measures of obesity over its study period. That result does not answer every question about longer-term use, and it cannot be assumed to apply equally to other medications.
Children’s needs also differ from adults’. An appetite-suppressing medication could make it harder for a child to get enough protein and other nutrients. Clinicians must watch for effects on growth, physical development, and a child’s relationship with food, as well as side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.
“The goal is to improve health while supporting normal growth, adequate nutrition and a healthy relationship with food and the body,” Dr. Armstrong said.
Who can access treatment?
The study found that children in less socially vulnerable communities were more likely to receive these prescriptions. It does not establish why. Insurance coverage, medication costs, access to specialists, transportation, and the time required for appointments may all affect a family’s options.
Dr. Armstrong said:
We should be careful not to create a system in which highly effective obesity treatment is available primarily to families with the greatest resources.
What should parents take from the trend?
More prescriptions show that families and clinicians are already facing this decision; they do not settle whether GLP-1 medications should become standard treatment for younger children. Parents who are concerned about a child’s obesity or related health conditions can start with a pediatrician who knows the child’s growth history and can discuss the full range of care options.
For a growing child, the measure of successful treatment is broader than a number on a scale. It includes physical health, nutrition, growth, and emotional well-being.
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “More Young Children Are Taking GLP-1 Drugs. What Parents Should Know,” Forbes, 9/21/26
Source: “Trends in GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Prescriptions for Children Ages 8 to 11 With Obesity: 2019–2026,” Pediatrics, 9/4/26
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