GLP-1 receptor agonists, used to treat diabetes, are now also being used for obesity in children and adolescents.
Pediatric obesity affects more than 14 million children, which is equivalent to 1 in 5 children in the United States. Certain ethnicities have seen a greater rise, with Hispanic ethnicity having the highest prevalence of obesity at 26.2%, followed by non-Hispanic Black ethnicity at 24.8%.1
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) defines obesity as a body mass index (BMI) as greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for age and sex.2 The CDC reported childhood obesity prevalence data from 2017 to 2020 at 12.7% among children aged 2 to 5 years, 20.7% among children aged 6 to 11 years, and 22.2% among children and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years.1
Risk factors for development of childhood obesity include modifiable factors (eg, physical activity levels) and nonmodifiable factors (eg, low socioeconomic status).3 Pediatric obesity has been linked to an increased risk of hypertension, asthma, polycystic ovary syndrome, type 2 diabetes, low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders.4,5
Caregivers can help prevent childhood obesity by establishing a daily routine, adhering to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s age-based sleep recommendations, providing balanced meals, limiting screen time to AAP’s age-based recommendations, and promoting approximately 300 minutes of physical activity weekly.1,6,7 The Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate created by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health can be used as a guide for creating balanced meals.8
Clinicians should query caregivers regarding access to nutritious foods and current support systems in place. Besides sports teams and outdoor activities, indoor physical activity within the home or school or via a community group should be offered to children. Referring social workers for families challenged by living in high-crime areas can increase support, connection, and guidance, as warranted.9
Pharmacological treatment may be considered adjunctively when nonpharmacological therapy alone does not achieve the desired results.4 Thus far, the FDA has approved 4 medications for chronic weight management in pediatric populations: orlistat (Xenical),10 phentermine and topiramate extended-release capsules (Qsymia),11 liraglutide (Saxenda),12 and semaglutide (Wegovy).13 This review focuses on the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs).
GLP-1 RAs bind to the GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas, brain, and gastrointestinal tract to stimulate insulin release. Additionally, GLP-1 RAs delay gastric emptying, which in turn reduces food intake and promotes a feeling of fullness.14
The FDA granted approval for the first GLP-1 RAs in April 2005 for blood glucose control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes.15 The medication class contains dulaglutide, exenatide, semaglutide, liraglutide, and lixisenatide. Of these, liraglutide and semaglutide are FDA approved for pediatric weight loss.16,17 In December 2020, liraglutide received approval as an adjunctive agent to lifestyle modifications for chronic weight management in pediatric patients 12 years and older with body weight greater than 60 kg and an initial BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 .17 In December 2022, the FDA approved semaglutide as an adjunctive agent to lifestyle modifications for chronic weight management in pediatric patients 12 years and older with an initial BMI equal to or greater than the 95th percentile standardized for age and sex.17 The clinical trial (STEP TEENS; NCT04102189) showed semaglutide was superior to placebo with a change in BMI percentage by week 68 at –16.1% with semaglutide vs +0.6% with placebo. Patients commonly experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and abdominal pain during the study. Discontinuation of the trial regimen occurred in 5% in semaglutide group and 4% in the placebo group due most commonly to gastrointestinal events.16 Liraglutide (Saxenda) was evaluated in a placebo controlled 56 week long clinical trial with a resulting 2.65% reduction in body weight with liraglutide vs 2.37% increase in body weight with placebo. Gastrointestinal events were common and were the most common reason for regimen discontinuation at 10% in the liraglutide group and 0% in the placebo group.17 Of note, exenatide has been shown to significantly reduce BMI in adolescent patients with severe obesity compared with placebo; however, exenatide is not FDA approved for use in the pediatric population for this indication.18
Medication information for liraglutide (Victoza) and semaglutide (Wegovy) can be found in the Table.19,20 GLP-1 RAs are administered via a subcutaneous injection in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Patients and caregivers should be counseled on appropriate medication preparation and injection techniques. Liraglutide and semaglutide products come packaged in ready-to-use pens, whereas exenatide formulations require product manipulation prior to administration, necessitating additional patient education.20,21
No current studies are examining superiority between the GLP-1 RAs in the pediatric population.22,23 More literature is needed to better categorize the expected BMI reduction with each agent. Available studies show up to 76% and 43.3% of adolescent patients reaching 5% or greater BMI reduction with semaglutide and liraglutide, respectively, within the designated study periods.24,25
As mentioned, GLP-1 RAs serve as an adjunctive agent to lifestyle modifications. A meta-analysis conducted by Ryan et al revealed a synergistic effect between the combined use of GLP-1 RAs and lifestyle interventions, which resulted in greater reductions in blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c levels, and weight compared with using GLP-1 RAs alone.25 Other considerations when choosing between products may include cost and insurance formulary.
Pharmacological treatment can be offered adjunctively when desired results are not achieved through nonpharmacological measures alone. Semaglutide and liraglutide are 2 FDA-approved medications for this indication that can be considered for treatment.
For more from the July, 2023 issue of Contemporary Pediatrics®, click here.
References:
Overcoming pediatric obesity: Behavioral strategies and GLP-1 support
October 4th 2024Kay Rhee, MD, discusses the challenges of pediatric obesity treatment, highlighting the role of biological and environmental factors, behavioral interventions, and the potential benefits of GLP-1 medications in weight management for children and teens.
Socioeconomic and racial disparities found in pediatric opioid prescriptions
September 29th 2024A study presented at the 2024 AAP Conference found that white children and those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to receive opioid prescriptions for fractures. Despite effective non-opioid alternatives, disparities persist in opioid prescription patterns.