GLP‑1 prescriptions for US children with obesity rise 310‑fold since 2019

A recent study has found that the number of U.S. children under age 12 with obesity who are prescribed the weight‑loss medications Saxenda, Wegovy and Zepbound, while still low in absolute terms, has risen dramatically since the drugs were first approved for pediatric use. By June 2026, prescriptions for this age group were 310 times higher than in 2019, the year the medications were initially introduced for children with severe obesity.

The analysis, which examined nationwide pharmacy and insurance data, highlighted that the surge reflects growing clinical interest in pharmacologic options for early‑onset obesity, despite limited long‑term safety data for children. Researchers noted that the increase coincides with broader public health efforts to address rising pediatric obesity rates and with recent FDA label expansions that allow the drugs to be considered for younger patients under specialist supervision. The study concluded that, although prescription volumes remain modest, the rapid growth underscores a shifting landscape in pediatric obesity treatment and suggests the need for ongoing monitoring of outcomes and safety in this vulnerable population.