1 medications like semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, have become some of the most popular drugs in the world. Its popularity is extending to teenagers and young adults, too, research out this week shows
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center examined medical records from teens and young adults across the country receiving treatment for obesity. The number of young people on GLP-1s has steadily risen since 2022, they found, while the rate of bariatric surgery has declined. Though only a small percentage of people in these age groups are using GLP-1s in combination with surgery, there should be more done to ensure the best results for them down the road, the researchers say.
“These findings underscore the rapid transformation of obesity care for [teens and young adults] and highlight the need for evidence-based guidance on treatment sequencing and long-term outcomes,” they wrote in the paper, published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics
The rise in early-life GLP-1 therapy
Though the prevalence of obesity in U.S. children and teens is lower than it is in the general public (roughly 20% vs. 40%), the rate has similarly risen in recent decades. Right now, however, there is still some debate about the value of GLP-1 therapy for these youngest populations. In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed the use of these medications for children with obesity over the age of 12, following the regulatory approval of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy for that age group. Other organizations, such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, have declined to do so, citing a lack of strong enough data at this time.
According to the researchers, little is known about how trends in GLP-1 use have changed lately among adolescents and young adults on a national population level nor how GLP-1s may have affected the use of bariatric surgery. They analyzed medical records collected via Epic Cosmos, a dataset covering over 300 million patient records from thousands of hospitals and clinics in the U.S. and other countries. They specifically focused on 204,148 people between the ages of 13 and 25 in the U.S. who were treated for obesity between May 2022 and January 2026.
Overall, with each passing year, more people in these age groups were treated with a GLP-1, the researchers found. The rate of exclusive GLP-1 use also increased from 88.2% between May and November 2022 to 96.1% between June 2025 and January 2026, while the rate of bariatric surgery declined from 11.6% to 3.7% during that same time period. The rate of combined therapy remained rare and steady throughout the study, with about 0.2% of people using both
“Our study shows just how quickly the treatment landscape has changed. In only a few years, GLP-1 medications have transformed obesity care for young people,” lead author Sarah Messiah, professor of epidemiology and associate dean for research in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern, told Gizmodo in an email
What to look out for
Studies have continued to show that GLP-1s are a safe and effective obesity treatment for many people, teens included
Yet compared to adults, we really only have short-term data on how these drugs could affect younger people’s health—an important consideration since many people might have to stay on these drugs for a lifetime to maintain their <a href="https://healthylife7.com/optimal-body-tackles-hidden-barriers-that-block-weight-loss-success/” title=”Optimal Body tackles hidden barriers that block weight loss success”>weight loss. The continued widespread marketing of GLP-1s from less regulated sources could also be a greater issue among teens and young adults, given long-standing societal pressures surrounding thinness. Recent research has suggested that some people with eating disorders are misusing GLP-1s, which they often obtain from compounding pharmacies, and such disorders are becoming more common in younger people.
None of this is to say that teens with obesity shouldn’t be taking these drugs if they and their doctors agree it’s right for them. But no drug is without its risks, and we should definitely be keeping a close eye on how these groups will fare on GLP-1s over the long term. At the end of the day, the researchers argue, everyone needs proper follow-up and management of their obesity treatment, no matter which option they choose
“The key message for families is that these medications are an important addition, not a replacement, for comprehensive obesity care,” Messiah said. “For some patients, medication may be the right choice; for others, bariatric surgery remains the most effective long-term treatment. The goal isn’t choosing one therapy over another but rather matching the right treatment to the right patient at the right time.”
This article has been updated with comments from one of the study’s authors.
