Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA combination image shows an injection pen of Zepbound, Eli Lilly's weight loss drug, and boxes of Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk (Reuters)American children under the age of 12 are taking GLP-1 obesity drugs at 300 times the rate compared to seven years ago, according to a new study. More than 20,000 children aged 8 to 11 have taken GLP-1 medications since 2019, with most suffering from severe obesity and related health conditions. Although the FDA has not approved GLP-1 drugs for children under 12, doctors are legally prescribing them off-label based on clinical guidelines. Medical experts suggest the benefits of GLP-1s may outweigh potential risks by preventing severe long-term conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Clinical trials are actively underway to evaluate the safety and efficacy of GLP-1 treatments in children as young as six years old. In fullGLP-1 use in US kids under-12 soars - even without FDA approvalMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Why thousands of American children under 12 are being prescribed GLP-1 drugs
Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA combination image shows an injection pen of Zepbound, Eli Lilly's weight loss drug, and boxes of Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk (Reuters)American children under the age of 12 are taking GLP-1 obesity drugs at 300 times the rate compared to seven years ago, according to a new study. More than 20,000 children aged 8 to 11 have taken GLP-1 medications since 2019, with most suffering from severe obesity and related health conditions. Although the FDA has not approved GLP-1 drugs for children under 12, doctors are legally prescribing them off-label based on clinical guidelines. Medical experts suggest the benefits of GLP-1s may outweigh potential risks by preventing severe long-term conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Clinical trials are actively underway to evaluate the safety and efficacy of GLP-1 treatments in children as young as six years old. In fullGLP-1 use in US kids under-12 soars - even without FDA approvalMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
