A recent study revealed that children taking liraglutide, a medication aimed at weight loss, experienced a significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) by 5.8%, while those on a placebo saw a 1.6% increase in BMI.

Lead researcher Dr. Claudia Fox from the Pediatric Obesity Center at the University of Minnesota emphasized that children have had very few options for managing obesity beyond diet and exercise.

Amid rising obesity rates, some doctors advocate for the necessity of medications, highlighting the challenges many children face in achieving lifestyle changes.

Experts stress the long-term health implications of childhood obesity, which include increased risks of diabetes, heart disease, and social stigmatization.

However, experts caution about the need for careful consideration of the drug's risks, especially given the limited data on its long-term use in young children.

The study involved 82 children with a mean age of 10, over half of whom faced obesity-related health issues, and showed that younger children had stronger results than previously studied teenagers.

The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Madrid.

Without ongoing treatment, children's BMI increased after the trial, indicating the need for continued intervention to maintain weight loss.

Dr. Fox advocates for considering weight-loss medications and surgical options for children, arguing that behavioral changes alone may not suffice for significant weight loss.

Currently, no medications are approved for treating obesity in children under 12 years old, although liraglutide, marketed as Saxenda, was approved for adolescents in 2020 and adults in 2014.

Based on the promising trial results, Novo Nordisk has submitted an application to the FDA seeking approval for liraglutide's use in children aged 6 to under 12.

With nearly 20% of children in the U.S. classified as having a high BMI, the prevalence of obesity among children is a growing concern that necessitates urgent action.