The following is from Children’s Health Defense.
Prescriptions for weight-loss drugs for children and teens have risen sharply, increasing sevenfold from October 2022 to September 2024, according to a MedPage Today analysis. Drugs like Saxenda and Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk, have gained popularity despite limited long-term safety data for young patients.
During this time, prescriptions for GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, used to treat obesity, more than doubled from 59,868 to 125,538 among pediatric specialists. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Saxenda for children 12 and older in December 2020 and Wegovy in December 2022. Critics note that the approved age for these drugs keeps dropping as their use expands.
These drugs often cost over $1,000 per month, posing barriers for many families. They work by making patients feel full, leading them to eat less, and are effective for weight loss while being used. However, the effects end once the injections stop, and the weight often returns.
Experts argue these drugs treat symptoms but not the root causes of obesity. About 20% of US children and teens are chronically obese, often due to poor diets filled with processed, calorie-heavy foods and sugary drinks. Beyond poor nutrition, children are exposed to obesogens – endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in pesticides, flame retardants, ultra-processed food additives, plastic toys, cookware, and cleaning supplies.
“We have created the ‘solution’ to treat the problem, without really being disciplined and empathetic enough to stop the creation of obese children in the first place.”
– Dr. Lawrence Palevsky, Pediatrician
Celebrity endorsements and influencer promotions have fueled the rapid adoption of these drugs, creating a drug market estimated to be worth $100 billion annually. However, concerns remain about prescribing them to younger patients. Known side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, and digestive issues, as well as serious risks such as pancreatitis, , stomach paralysis, kidney disease, and potential thyroid cancer.
For more information, read the full article here.
Here’s a simple solution parents.
Stop the junk food.
Get outside and play, burn calories.
Turn off cell phones & get away from computer games.
You will be amazed how much weight your kids will loose.
My friend has been taking one of these. She is pleased she has lost 55 pounds over 6 months. She is unconcerned with the high dollar cost, that is worth it to her. But, now she is having gall bladder attacks and her dr has told her they will have to remove her gall bladder. I’m concerned that she is heading towards pancreatitis. And she already had thyroid issues.
Nothing I can say sways that 55 pound weight loss. And I can admit, the thought of being able to drop that weight is seductively attractive; to no longer have that extra weight on joints, to have your back not ache, to be able to sleep comfortably, to fit back into the body she had and the clothes she used to be able to wear. Though she was working out everyday, not a big eater, and walked minimum 2 miles every morning, could not drop the weight. Her plan is to step down on it, to twice a month, to once a month. then still more after that if she can maintain the weight loss, to try and avoid weight gain once she goes off of it.