Breaking News: Revolutionary Obesity Treatment for Kids – What Every Parent Needs to Know!
liraglutide obesity treatment children
Obesity Drug Liraglutide Found Safe for Kids in New Study
Liraglutide has demonstrated a safe reduction in BMI for children aged 6 to under 12, suggesting a promising new avenue for addressing pediatric obesity. This conclusion arises from research unveiled at the annual European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting in Madrid, Spain, held from September 9 to 13, with simultaneous publication in the New England Journal of Medicine.
In a study involving children between six and under twelve years of age, those administered liraglutide for slightly over a year showed a BMI decrease of 7.4% in contrast to a placebo group. The trial also reported beneficial effects on blood pressure and blood sugar management.
liraglutide obesity treatment children: Findings from the SCALE Kids Trial
The SCALE Kids trial, the first of its kind to investigate the safety and effectiveness of liraglutide in children, brings renewed optimism for improving the health and productivity of obese children, according to researchers.
Professor Claudia Fox, lead author from the Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School, highlighted that obesity is the most prevalent chronic childhood disease.
Without treatment, childhood obesity often continues into adulthood, leading to severe health consequences, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and, for some, premature mortality. Hence, early intervention is crucial.
“Currently, effective treatment options are limited,” notes Fox. “Lifestyle changes—diet and physical activity—form the core of obesity management, but their impact is modest when used alone. Moreover, no medication is currently approved for general obesity treatment in children under 12. Liraglutide, however, is approved as a supplemental therapy for adults and adolescents, prompting us to explore its potential for younger children.”
liraglutide obesity treatment children: Mechanism of Liraglutide
Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It mimics the GLP-1 hormone to suppress appetite and hunger, delay gastric emptying, and enhance satiety post-meal, administered as a daily injection.
The Phase 3 study, funded by Novo Nordisk, the maker of liraglutide, involved 82 children (53.7% male) aged 6 to under 12 years, with an average age of 10 years, a BMI of 31.0 kg/m², and a body weight of 70.2 kg (11st 1lb) at baseline. Over half of the children presented with at least one obesity-related complication, like insulin resistance or early puberty.
Notable Reductions in BMI and Weight
In the trial, 56 children received daily liraglutide injections (3mg or the maximum tolerated dose), while 26 were given weekly placebo injections over 56 weeks.
Participants were also provided personalized counseling at each visit to support adherence to a balanced diet and regular physical activity, aiming for 60 minutes of moderate to high-intensity exercise daily.
Upon completing the treatment period, the average BMI change was -5.8% for the liraglutide group versus +1.6% for the placebo group—a 7.4% difference.
The average body weight change was +1.6% with liraglutide compared to +10% with placebo—an 8.4% difference. Notably, 46.2% of children on liraglutide achieved at least a 5% reduction in BMI, against 8.7% in the placebo group.
Children at this age are continually growing, so a year-long body weight increase is expected. Researchers emphasized that BMI, which factors in both height and weight, provides a more meaningful measure in such cases.
Additional Health Benefits and Side Effects
Professor Fox explained, “While there is no consensus on what constitutes a clinically significant BMI reduction in children, a 5% reduction has previously been linked to improvements in some obesity-related conditions.”
The study further showed that diastolic blood pressure and HbA1c (a measure of blood sugar control) improved more in the liraglutide group than in the placebo group.
Side effects were prevalent in both cohorts (89.3% for liraglutide and 88.5% for placebo), with gastrointestinal issues (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) being the most common—affecting 80.4% of the liraglutide group and 53.8% of the placebo group. Severe side effects were reported by 12.5% of liraglutide recipients and 7.7% of placebo recipients.
In the liraglutide group, four out of seven severe adverse events were gastrointestinal, and 10.7% discontinued treatment due to side effects, compared to none in the placebo group. These findings align with previously observed data in adolescents and adults using liraglutide.
Following treatment cessation, both groups experienced increases in BMI and body weight.
Researchers concluded that liraglutide at a 3.0 mg dosage resulted in a more substantial BMI reduction than placebo in obese children aged six to under twelve, with no new safety concerns arising.
Professor Fox added, “This study’s outcomes offer significant hope to children suffering from obesity. Until now, children have had virtually no treatment options beyond the exhortation to ‘try harder’ with diet and exercise. A medication that targets the physiological roots of obesity represents a potential breakthrough, promising healthier and more fulfilling lives for affected children.”
Reference
“Liraglutide for Children 6 to <12 Years of Age with Obesity — A Randomized Trial” by Claudia K. Fox, Margarita Barrientos-Pérez, Eric M. Bomberg, John Dcruz, Inge Gies, Nina M. Harder-Lauridsen, Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin, Kushal Sahu, Petra Weimers, Thomas Zueger, and Silva Arslanian, 9 September 2024, New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2407379
Claudia Fox has received research support as a site principal investigator for trials funded by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, with funds directed to her institution. This study was financed by Novo Nordisk.
