GLP-1 Use Among Children Ages 8 To 11 With Obesity Remains Rare, But Is Rising

GLP-1 prescribing among U.S. children ages 8 to 11 with obesity but without diabetes increased sharply between 2019 and 2026, although use remained uncommon overall. Among more than 3.5 million children included in the study, 20,282, or 0.6%, received a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) prescription.

The researchers reported that prevalent GLP-1RA prescribing increased from 0.03% in 2019 to 9.3% in 2026, representing a 310-fold increase. The analysis included prescriptions for Saxenda, Wegovy, and Zepbound.

Prescribing was concentrated among children with greater clinical risk. Among children who received . . .