The inclusion of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in widely used weight loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy may pose a potential risk to children’s health., comprising clinicians, exercise scientists, pharmaceutical scholars, ethicists, and behavioral specialists, have raised concerns regarding the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists to treat childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes.led by Dr. Dan M.
“Our major concern is the unbalance and inappropriate reductions in calorie or energy intake associated with these weight loss drugs,” said Cooper, associate director of the UCI Institute for Clinical and Translational Science and interim director of the UCI Institute for Precision Health. “Unlike in adults, children and adolescents need energy and sufficient calories not only for physical activity, but for growth and development.
With the growing efficacy and popularity of these medications, drug manufacturers are quickly developing oral forms of the drugs, which researchers believe could limit oversight and cause cases of abuse. Anecdotal clinical experience suggests that there is already widespread knowledge in the pediatric population about the GLP-1RA’s effectiveness as satiety medications aiding weight loss, not helped by the apparent widespread use documented in the popular media.
As a result of their research and clinical experience with exercise, diet, and obesity prevention, the UCI team outlined a call-to-action. Targeting thenetwork of academic centers, like UCI, that are recipients of Clinical and Translational Science Award hubs across the nation, the call-to-action includes:
Engage and improve the quality and accessibility of relevant real-world data such as school-based physical fitness testing , mandated in 16 states covering around 60% of American school children.