A new study by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has found that its obesity drug, liraglutide, is both safe and effective for children as young as six. The medication, marketed under brand names like Wegovy and Ozempic for adults, has shown promising results in reducing body mass index (BMI) and slowing weight gain in younger children when combined with diet and exercise. Novo Nordisk is now pushing for U.S. regulators to approve the medication for children aged 6 to 11, potentially making it the first obesity drug available to this age group.
Liraglutide belongs to a class of GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic hormones that regulate appetite and digestion. These drugs, including their blockbuster counterparts Wegovy and Ozempic, have made significant waves in the medical community for their efficacy in weight management for adults and adolescents. Now, with this recent study, Novo Nordisk hopes to extend that benefit to younger children.
According to the study, which was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference, children aged 6 to 11 who received liraglutide saw a 5.8% reduction in BMI, compared to a 1.6% increase in BMI for those given a placebo. The research included 82 children with an average age of 10 and a baseline weight of around 70 kilograms (154 pounds). The participants in the liraglutide group received daily injections for 13 months while also following a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
In addition to reducing BMI, children who were treated with liraglutide showed improvements in other health markers such as blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Over 46% of the children receiving the drug lowered their BMI by at least 5%, a reduction strongly associated with better health outcomes. Only 9% of the placebo group achieved the same results.
“To date, children have had virtually no options for treating obesity beyond being told to ‘try harder’ with diet and exercise,” says Dr. Claudia Fox, a pediatric obesity expert at the University of Minnesota and lead researcher in the study. “This research offers new hope for young children and their families.”
Obesity in children is a growing concern worldwide, with serious long-term health implications including early onset diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and even sleep apnea. According to the World Health Organization, over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 were overweight or obese in 2016, a figure that has only increased over the years. In Europe, it is estimated that 1 in 6 individuals is now obese, exacerbating the urgency of addressing the issue early.
The Novo Nordisk study provides a significant breakthrough in addressing this global health crisis. For children who have struggled to lose weight through traditional methods such as diet and exercise, the availability of a medical solution could mark a turning point in their health and well-being.
While liraglutide’s results are promising, there are concerns about its long-term safety and potential side effects. Common side effects in the study included gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Additionally, once children stopped taking the drug during the six-month follow-up period, they quickly regained weight, highlighting the importance of long-term treatment and careful management.
“We want these kids to have long, healthy lives,” says Dr. Alaina Vidmar, a pediatric obesity specialist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles who was not involved in the study. “The sooner we start treating childhood obesity, the more likely we can prevent early onset diabetes, heart disease, and other health complications.”
Still, the potential side effects and limited data on long-term use in young children raise important questions about how widely liraglutide should be prescribed. Dr. Melissa Crocker, a pediatric obesity specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital, emphasizes caution: “Having a medication for that age group, if approved, would be a great tool, but we need to be careful about how broadly it’s used. I’d certainly answer that differently for a 6-year-old compared to an 11-year-old.”
Novo Nordisk has already asked U.S. regulators to approve liraglutide for children aged 6 to 11. In Europe, the drug is currently approved for adolescents as young as 12 under the brand name Saxenda. If approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it would be the first drug on the market for childhood obesity in this younger age group.
The trial has been extended to include more treatment and follow-up, with results expected by 2027. This data will provide further insight into the long-term effects and sustainability of liraglutide’s benefits.
The fight against childhood obesity is an ongoing global battle, but with the development of medications like liraglutide, there’s a new tool in the arsenal. For families and children struggling with obesity, early treatment may help stave off long-term health consequences and improve quality of life. As Novo Nordisk seeks regulatory approval, the medical community is watching closely to see how this treatment might reshape the future of childhood obesity care.
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