Research reveals that nearly one in six children aged 10 to 17 on GLP-1 drugs develop nutritional deficiencies within a year, urging better integration of dietary support into paediatric obesity and diabetes treatments.
A new study in the journal Childhood Obesity suggests that nutritional care may be an overlooked part of treatment for children taking GLP-1 medicines for weight loss, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that nearly one in six patients aged 10 to 17 was diagnosed with a nutritional deficiency within a year of starting therapy, raising questions about whether young people are getting enough dietary support at a stage of life marked by rapid growth and development.
The analysis drew on US insurance claims data from 2017 to 2022 and included 2,031 children who met the study criteria. Liraglutide was the most commonly prescribed drug in the group, accounting for the vast majority of prescriptions, followed by dulaglutide and semaglutide. Vitamin D deficiency was the most frequently recorded problem, affecting 12.4% of the children. The researchers also found that nutrition support was uncommon soon after treatment began: only 5% of patients received counselling within 30 days and fewer than a quarter had done so within six months.
Justin Ryder, the senior author and vice chair of research in the department of surgery at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, said nutritional support should be built into GLP-1 treatment from the outset. Speaking about the findings, Ryder said the study showed that although these medicines are increasingly being used in paediatric care, proactive nutrition management is still lagging behind. He added that nutrients such as vitamin D, iron and calcium are especially important during adolescence, when shortages can affect skeletal health and broader development.
The findings add to a growing debate over how best to monitor children who are prescribed GLP-1 drugs, which have become more prominent in obesity and diabetes care. While the medicines can help manage weight and blood sugar, the study suggests they may also create or reveal gaps in dietary intake that clinicians need to address earlier. The authors said the goal should be prevention rather than waiting until a deficiency is already diagnosed.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
