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As new weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic soar in popularity and help millions of Americans lead healthier lives, we’re getting lots of questions about prescribing weight loss drugs for children. In a nutshell, some older kids with obesity can benefit from the new semaglutide medications. However, as pediatricians, we work to protect children’s overall physical and emotional well-being. So there are essential criteria that we must meet before prescribing weight loss drugs for teens. If your child is obese or overweight, your pediatrician has a wide range of tools in their toolbox to help your child and your family.
Fighting The Childhood Obesity Epidemic
Childhood obesity has become a public health crisis. The American Academy of Pediatrics sounded an alarm with new guidelines in 2023 with more forceful recommendations than ever, including recommending new weight loss drugs for older kids with severe obesity.
According to the CDC, one in five children now has an obesity diagnosis–nearly 15 million children and teens nationwide.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has approved weight loss drugs for some teens 12 and up with obesity. In children, obesity is generally defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for the child’s age and sex. Severe obesity is considered to be 120 percent of the 95th percentile. However, diagnosing and treating obesity means way more than looking at BMI. That’s why ongoing conversations with your pediatrician are so important.
How Do The New Weight Loss Drugs Work?
Many of the new drugs, including Ozempic and Wegov are known as GLP-1 agonists. They replicate the effects of natural hormones in our body that help us feel full and reduce food cravings. These semaglutide drugs boost insulin production, lower our blood sugar levels and reduce our appetites. Most of the new medications are given as weekly injections. These drugs can be life-changing for patients with diabetes and obesity, helping patients to live healthier lives. However, they may have side effects, including nausea and diarrhea, and long-term effects are still being studied.
Are The New Weight Loss Drugs Safe For Children?
One of the challenges with the new drugs is that preliminary findings indicate that adults need to remain on them long-term to sustain their weight loss, similar to many blood pressure and cholesterol medications. Since long-term side effects are still being studied, the medical community has raised questions about the health effects for children with obesity if they continue taking the drugs for decades. However, according to the ADA, the overall impact for teens with severe obesity and related conditions like diabetes is beneficial. Prescribing these drugs makes sense when the health risks associated with obesity, including diabetes, high blood pressure and dangers to heart health, outweigh potential risks related to the medications. These medications must be combined with changes to diet and exercise and should be regularly monitored by your pediatrician.
What Weight Loss Options Are Available For Younger Overweight Children?
The new weight loss drugs are generally reserved for teens twelve and older who are diagnosed with severe obesity, especially those with associated health risks like diabetes. They’re not for younger children who are overweight. In those cases, lifestyle changes involving nutrition and exercise are almost always our first recommendation. In many cases, your pediatrician will recommend seeing a nutritionist and possibly a counselor for mental health challenges associated with obesity. Helping children lose weight for health reasons is often a family affair. Parents can help by:
- Modeling healthy eating
- Encouraging family members to drink water instead of sugary sodas and sports drinks
- Maintaining consistent sleep routines
- Adding physical activity, including youth sports and family activities
- Limiting screen time and spending time outside
- Parents can also talk with their pediatrician about Family Healthy Weight Programs, which incorporate lifestyle changes for the whole family.
- Weight Loss And Your Child: Your Pediatrician Is Your Partner
With or without help from new medications, weight loss is an ongoing, long-term process for people of all ages. When children are involved, as pediatricians and caregivers, we must focus on every child’s holistic well-being, and that goes way beyond simply writing a prescription. We strive to meet their nutritional and mental health needs. Supporting a child working toward weight loss for health reasons involves lifestyle changes and a commitment from the whole family. At Loudoun Pediatric Associates, we focus on the whole child and achieving healthier outcomes for kids of all ages and their families. In some cases, the new weight loss drugs can be one effective tool in the broader lifestyle approach.
