Obesity drug worked in children ages 6 to 12, study says, raising hopes and concerns
The first late-stage trial of a GLP-1 drug in young children with obesity showed the treatment helped lower body mass index. But the findings also raise questions about whether obesity medications, some of which are currently approved for teenagers, should also be given to children at such a young age.
The 56-week trial tested Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda, the predecessor of Wegovy, coupled with lifestyle interventions in children ages 6 to 12. It found that those given daily injections of the drug, also called liraglutide, experienced a 5.8% decrease in BMI, compared with a 1.6% increase in the placebo group. Blood pressure and blood sugar levels also improved more in children receiving the drug.
