A recent study highlights the potential of the weight loss medication liraglutide in treating younger children with obesity, revealing that it significantly outperforms placebo in weight reduction. This promising development may offer a new avenue for addressing childhood obesity, a condition notoriously challenging to manage.
Obesity poses a formidable challenge across all ages, with effective interventions often limited. While GLP-1 receptor agonists like liraglutide have shown efficacy in adults and adolescents over 12, younger children typically rely on diet, exercise, and counseling. Even with these interventions, results have been only modest, emphasizing the need for alternative solutions.
Liraglutide, marketed under the names Saxenda and Victoza, was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adult weight loss in 2014 and extended to children aged 12 to 17 in 2020. The latest study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference by Dr. Claudia Fox from the University of Minnesota Medical School, explores the drug’s efficacy in younger children.
This research focused on children aged 6 to 12 with elevated body mass indices (BMI). The trial, involving 82 participants, administered daily liraglutide injections to 56 children, while the remaining 26 received a placebo. All participants also underwent counseling for diet and exercise, specifically targeting at least an hour of moderate to high-intensity physical activity each day.
The results were striking. After just over a year, children receiving liraglutide experienced a 5.8% reduction in BMI, compared to a 1.6% increase in the placebo group. This difference translates to a 7.4 percentage point greater decrease in BMI for those on the medication.
The study, funded by Novo Nordisk, aligns with previous findings in teenagers but shows even more pronounced effects in younger children. Dr. Fox expressed surprise at the stronger outcomes in this age group, suggesting that earlier intervention might be beneficial. However, she cautioned that the study did not directly compare age groups, indicating that further research is needed to validate this theory.
Liraglutide was deemed safe for use among the children in the trial, though both groups reported some adverse effects. Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting were more frequent among those receiving the drug, but these symptoms generally subsided over time, and dropout rates due to side effects were low.
The study also noted a rebound in BMI after the cessation of liraglutide and counseling, although this increase was less pronounced than in previous adolescent trials. This suggests that early use of the medication might yield more durable long-term benefits.
Obesity, a significant public health issue, affects nearly 20% of U.S. children, with its prevalence more than tripling since the 1970s. If liraglutide proves effective over the long term, it could have substantial health benefits, addressing not only weight but also the associated stigma and potential for chronic diseases.
Dr. Simon Cork from Anglia Ruskin University, while not involved in the study, praised the findings but emphasized the need for longer-term studies to ensure that liraglutide does not adversely affect growth or development. Likewise, Dr. Nerys Astbury from the University of Oxford highlighted the broader implications of such medications, noting their potential to significantly impact long-term health despite current costs.
Current guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advocate for intensive behavioral interventions but do not endorse weight loss medications or surgery for children. In contrast, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently updated its recommendations to include these options for certain cases.
Dr. Fox supports the consideration of weight-loss medications and surgical options, arguing that behavioral changes alone may not suffice for a condition with biological underpinnings. “Relying solely on behavioral interventions is often inadequate for significant improvement,” she noted.
As the medical community continues to evaluate the potential of liraglutide and similar treatments, these findings offer hope for more effective management of childhood obesity.
