Experts are calling for weight loss drugs for children with obesity ages 12 and up

quote:

---

Childhood obesity rates continue to rise in the U.S., affecting nearly 1 in 5 kids and adolescents ages 2 to 19. 

To combat it, experts are calling for early and intensive treatment. For some children, that may include weight loss medications. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics included anti-obesity drugs for the first time this year in its guidelines for treating childhood obesity. According to the guidelines, pediatricians should offer weight loss drugs to adolescents ages 12 and up with obesity, alongside diet and lifestyle changes that encourage healthy eating and exercise.

Four weight loss drugs are approved for use in adolescents as young as 12: Wegovy, Saxenda, orlistat and Qsymia. Wegovy and Saxenda are part of a newer class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists that have soared in popularity in the past year.

The recommendations were immediately met with controversy, especially from groups concerned about eating disorders, who worried that including weight loss drugs would ultimately be harmful to children.

The drugs — though highly effective for weight loss — do come with drawbacks: They’re pricey and not always covered by insurance, and experts believe people taking them will need to be on them long-term.

---