Semaglutide for management of obesity in adolescents: efficacy, safety, and considerations for clinical practice

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to describe the existing limited data related to the use of semaglutide in adolescents with obesity, supplementing with findings from adult studies of semaglutide use. Recent findings Semaglutide, as a once weekly subcutaneous injection for weight management, effectively reduces body mass index (BMI) while improving hyperglycemia, elevated alanine aminotransferase levels, hyperlipidemia, and quality of life in youth with obesity. As of this review, only one large randomized clinical trial of semaglutide in youth has been completed, with a follow-up duration of 68 weeks. Thus, long-term data on the safety in adolescents is limited, particularly regarding the risks of cholelithiasis, pancreatitis, suicidal ideation, and disordered eating. Due to the cost of semaglutide, particularly in the United States, limited cost effectiveness analyses have demonstrated unfavorable incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for semaglutide relative to phentermine-topiramate as an alternative antiobesity medication in adolescents. Summary Semaglutide represents an important advance in the pediatric obesity management, with clear short-term reductions in BMI and improvement in metabolic parameters. However, its long-term safety and efficacy for youth with obesity remain to be demonstrated. Additional research is needed to assess trends in utilization and adherence to minimize the risk of worsening socioeconomic disparities in pediatric obesity.