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8mo ago

Weight Loss Drug Liraglutide Shows Promise for Children as Young as Six

A recent study finds liraglutide effective in reducing BMI for children with obesity, though concerns about long-term effects remain.

Image
File - In this July 9, 2019, photo, immigrants play soccer at the U.S. government's newest holding center for migrant children in Carrizo Springs, Texas. The Biden administration plans to partially end the 27-year-old court supervision of how the federal government cares for child migrants, shortly after producing its own list of safeguards against mistreatment. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Injector pens for the Saxenda weight loss drug.

Overview

  • The study involved 82 children aged 6 to 12, with half receiving daily liraglutide injections and the rest a placebo.
  • Children on liraglutide saw an average BMI reduction of 5.8%, compared to a 1.6% increase in the placebo group.
  • Common side effects included nausea and vomiting, but these typically subsided over time.
  • The study, funded by Novo Nordisk, is the first to test liraglutide's effects on children under 12.
  • Experts caution that more long-term studies are needed to ensure the drug does not adversely affect growth and development.