The number of U.S. teenagers using the powerful weight-loss drug Wegovy has risen sharply, growing 50% over the past year, as more families and physicians view it as a viable solution for adolescent obesity. Data shared with Reuters by Truveta, a health analytics firm, shows the prescription rate rose from 9.9 to 14.8 per 100,000 teens in 2023. That momentum continued into early 2024, with rates climbing to 17.3 per 100,000. Despite the uptick, usage remains low compared to the estimated 23,000 per 100,000 adolescents classified as obese, and still trails adult adoption significantly.

Medical experts say the increased interest reflects growing acceptance of Wegovy, produced by Novo Nordisk, particularly in cases where conventional methods like diet and exercise have failed. “While it’s encouraging to see more youth gaining access to treatment, the majority of severely obese teens are still left without options,” said Dr. Cate Varney of the University of Virginia Health System. Truveta’s review covered over 1.3 million patients aged 12 to 17 from 30 healthcare systems, but excluded other GLP-1 drugs not approved for teens, such as Ozempic or Eli Lilly’s Zepbound

Approved for adolescent use in late 2022, Wegovy filled a long-standing treatment gap after traditional strategies showed limited success. Government data indicates that nearly 8 million teens—about 23% of those aged 12 to 19—now live with obesity, up from just 5% in 1980. Obesity in youth is a major risk factor for chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. In response, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued guidelines in 2023 endorsing anti-obesity drugs for children as young as 12, but uptake has been slow due to concerns over long-term safety and uncertain insurance coverage.

At Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware, about a quarter of patients in the weight management clinic were prescribed GLP-1 medications in 2023, according to clinic director Dr. Thao-Ly Phan. Most of these teens lost an average of 15 pounds in the first 6–12 months, and up to 30 pounds with continued use. However, access remains uneven. Many families face insurance denials or harbor worries about unknown risks, while others pursue lifestyle changes or older, more affordable medications with mixed results

Federal health officials have sounded alarms over rapidly embracing such treatments. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently labeled the widespread prescribing of GLP-1s to teens as part of a broader "overmedicalization" of children, highlighting the lack of long-term studies and potential risks to growth and metabolism. Novo Nordisk, however, counters that clinical trials showed no interference with growth or puberty, and emphasized that many adults struggling with obesity began their journey in adolescence.

Other drugmakers, including Eli Lilly, are racing to test their obesity treatments for younger age groups. Meanwhile, clinicians like Dr. Robert Siegel at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital remain cautious. He typically prescribes GLP-1 drugs only after months of intensive lifestyle therapy. “We’re still learning about the long-term effects,” he said. Many general practitioners lack the tools or time to monitor patients comprehensively, raising concerns about muscle loss and other side effects. "These drugs may need to be used indefinitely," Siegel added, "yet we only have short-term experience so far."