Could an Injection be the Answer to Obesity in Children?
Obesity has been a rising issue in the United States over the past few decades. Not only has it affected the health of over 42% of Americans, it has also affected nearly 20% of American children. There have been many initiatives in the past to encourage more activity and healthier eating for children over the last decade, such as First Lady Michelle Obama’s efforts to make school lunches more nutritious, but the problem still looms and poses a threat to the health of children across the US. However, the public conversation surrounding obesity has shifted over the last year due to a new medication that entered the scene: semaglutide.
Semaglutide, also known under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, is an injectable medication that was originally formulated to help manage type 2 diabetes. The medication works by releasing more insulin into the body, which helps digest food into usable sugars for cells in the body. Because of its formulation, it also decreases appetite and slows down digestion, resulting in weight loss over time. This side effect has made the medication very popular for people looking to lose weight, whether they qualify as obese or not. It has recently been approved as a weight loss medication for adults dealing with obesity, but a new study has shown that the medication also has promise for childhood obesity.
Semaglutide, also known under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, is an injectable medication that was originally formulated to help manage type 2 diabetes. The medication works by releasing more insulin into the body, which helps digest food into usable sugars for cells in the body. Because of its formulation, it also decreases appetite and slows down digestion, resulting in weight loss over time. This side effect has made the medication very popular for people looking to lose weight, whether they qualify as obese or not. It has recently been approved as a weight loss medication for adults dealing with obesity, but a new study has shown that the medication also has promise for childhood obesity.
The self-injectable drug has rapidly grown more popular over the last year.
Image Source: freepik
This study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, conducted a randomized trial of semaglutide injections in 200 children ages 12 to 18 with a body mass index (BMI) over 30, classifying them as obese. The study lasted 68 weeks, with two-thirds of the participants receiving semaglutide injections and a third of them receiving placebo injections. Results showed that the group receiving treatment saw a 16% decrease in their BMI, 17% decrease in weight, and significant decrease in their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The placebo group saw only a 0.6% decrease in weight, a 2.7% increase in weight, and minimal changes in blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This is sufficient evidence that the injections were the most effective factor in improving the health outcomes among this population.
While this medication may have promise for treating childhood obesity, it will take time before the FDA approves it for use in children. The medication can be quite expensive, making insurance companies less likely to cover the cost, especially if injections are needed long-term. Additionally, childhood obesity is likely affected by other lifestyle factors that should be addressed in tandem with medical intervention. Social determinants of health play a large role in the health outcomes of children, which underlines the importance of making healthy foods accessible to all, ensuring that parents have adequate time to prepare healthy meals for their children, and making sure that children are able to exercise and play outside in their neighborhoods. Still, this medication is a hopeful option to improve the health outcomes of these children in the long run.
While this medication may have promise for treating childhood obesity, it will take time before the FDA approves it for use in children. The medication can be quite expensive, making insurance companies less likely to cover the cost, especially if injections are needed long-term. Additionally, childhood obesity is likely affected by other lifestyle factors that should be addressed in tandem with medical intervention. Social determinants of health play a large role in the health outcomes of children, which underlines the importance of making healthy foods accessible to all, ensuring that parents have adequate time to prepare healthy meals for their children, and making sure that children are able to exercise and play outside in their neighborhoods. Still, this medication is a hopeful option to improve the health outcomes of these children in the long run.
Featured Image Source: MasterTux
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