New Study Shows Promising Results for Weight Loss Drug in Children

Boy in Black Shirt Writing on White Paper

Children who used the weight loss drug liraglutide in a late-stage trial lost significantly more weight than those who received a placebo. This study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, offers new hope for addressing childhood obesity.

Dr. Claudia Fox, a pediatric obesity expert at the University of Minnesota and lead researcher of the study, stated, “To date, children have had virtually no options for treating obesity. They have been told to ‘try harder’ with diet and exercise.” The study included 82 children with an average age of 10 and a baseline weight of about 155 pounds (70 kilograms). More than half of the participants had obesity-related health problems such as insulin resistance, asthma, or early puberty.

Trial results

The trial results showed that liraglutide, administered as a daily injection, significantly lowered body mass index (BMI) and slowed weight gain in children aged 6 to 11. “Having a medication for that age group, if approved, would be a really nice tool,” said Dr. Melissa Crocker, a pediatric obesity specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital, who was not involved in the study. However, she cautioned, “We’re also going to have to be careful about how widely we start using it”.

Despite the promising results, the study also highlighted some concerns. Side effects were common among those given the drug, particularly gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Dr. Roy Kim, a pediatric endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s in Ohio, emphasized the need for caution, saying, “We do not know the long-term effectiveness and safety of these medicines in children”.

Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company behind liraglutide, has requested U.S. regulators to expand the use of the medication for children in this age group. If approved, liraglutide would be the first drug authorized to treat the most common type of obesity affecting more than 20% of U.S. children aged 6 to 11.

This study marks a big step forward in the fight against childhood obesity, providing a potential new tool for healthcare providers and families. However, experts agree that careful consideration and further research are necessary to fully understand the long-term implications of using weight loss drugs in young children.