Obese children should be offered weight-loss injections to prevent lifelong health issues

The president of the World Obesity Federation highlighted growing evidence supporting the use of these injections in adolescents and, in severe cases, even among children under 12.

Professor Louise Baur, an obesity pediatrician and professor at the University of Sydney, Australia, spoke on this topic amid ongoing discussions about the use of weight-loss medications like Wegovy, which is also marketed as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes treatment.

Recent research indicates that weight-loss injections can reduce the risk of heart-related deaths by 20%. This study, the largest of its kind, is considered a significant breakthrough in cardiac medicine since the introduction of statins in the 1990s.

Despite these promising findings, NHS officials caution against using these injections as a quick solution for achieving a “beach body.” Reports have emerged of young, slim girls lying about their weight to obtain the medication, risking severe health consequences. Doctors have reported an increase in emergency room visits due to side effects such as pancreatitis, stemming from patients lying to online pharmacies to pass eligibility checks.

At the International Congress on Obesity, Professor Baur noted that trials show the weight-loss drug semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, is effective and safe for adolescents, similar to its use in adults.

In England, 22.7 per cent of children are obese by the time they start secondary school, close to the adult obesity rate of 26.2 per cent.

Professor Baur will advocate at the conference in São Paulo for treating obesity in children and adolescents as a chronic disease that can be managed with medical intervention. She will suggest that injections could be a less invasive alternative to bariatric surgery.

She will emphasise the need for obesity medications to be part of a comprehensive care plan that includes behavioral support. While long-term use of these medications may be necessary, further research is needed.

These medications work by targeting brain centres that control appetite, promoting feelings of fullness, reducing hunger, and decreasing food intake.

A study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 16 months of treatment with weight-loss injections and lifestyle counseling halved obesity rates in adolescents aged 12 to 18. Researchers recommended that the NHS offer these injections to all obese teenagers as early as possible to prevent future health issues.

Scientists from the University of Minnesota Medical School suggested that some adolescents might need to remain on these weekly injections for life to maintain weight loss.

Another trial is investigating the use of the injection tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro, in adolescents.

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are approved for use in obese adults and those with a BMI of at least 27 who have weight-related health conditions. However, the NHS has limited their availability, typically offering Wegovy only to patients attending specialist weight clinics.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has proposed guidelines recommending Mounjaro for individuals with a BMI of at least 35 and weight-related health issues.