Prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs among children ages 8 to 11 with obesity increased 310-fold from 2019 to June 2026, according to a study published in Pediatrics on September 4, 2026. A total of 20,282 children ages 8 to 11 were prescribed GLP-1 drugs during the study period from January 2019 to June 2026. The portion of children ages 8 to 11 with obesity and without diabetes prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists increased from 0.03 percent in 2019 to 9.3 percent in 2026.

The surge occurred despite the fact that no GLP-1 medication is FDA-approved for use in children under age 12. The study used Epic Cosmos, a national dataset of electronic health records from more than 300 million American patients. The dataset includes information from 2,067 hospitals and 47,100 health clinics across the United States.

The demographic profile of children receiving prescriptions revealed specific trends. Girls were more likely than boys to receive GLP-1 prescriptions. Additionally, 93.7 percent of children prescribed GLP-1s had severe obesity. The data also indicated that young children with obesity in upper-income communities were 55 percent more likely to be prescribed GLP-1 medications than those who did not live in such communities.

A quarter of young children with obesity who were prescribed GLP-1s were prediabetic. Furthermore, 65.2 percent of children prescribed GLP-1s experienced at least one illness tied to obesity, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea. Semaglutide was the most common initial GLP-1 prescription, while liraglutide was the least common.

Comparative data showed higher rates of comorbidities in children prescribed GLP-1s versus non-users. Specifically, 13.8 percent of children prescribed GLP-1s had metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, compared to 3 percent of non-users. Hyperlipidemia affected 36.9 percent of children prescribed GLP-1s, compared to 8.8 percent of non-users.

Hypertension was present in 12.8 percent of children prescribed GLP-1s, compared to 2.5 percent of non-users. Obstructive sleep apnea affected 24.1 percent of children prescribed GLP-1s, compared to 7 percent of non-users. Prediabetes was identified in 25.2 percent of children prescribed GLP-1s, compared to 3.6 percent of non-users.

GLP-1 prescriptions were less common for children ages 8 to 11 with obesity, at 0.6 percent, than for adolescents ages 12 to 17 with obesity, at 0.9 percent. Clinical trials involving GLP-1 medications are underway for children as young as 6 years old with obesity.

Why It Matters

The rapid increase in off-label prescribing of GLP-1 drugs to children under 12 shows a gap between clinical practice and regulatory approval. With no FDA-approved options for this age group, physicians are navigating complex decisions regarding treatment for severe obesity and related comorbidities. The disparity in access based on income suggests that economic factors may influence which children receive these interventions.

The lack of long-term safety data for this demographic presents questions about developmental impacts. As usage accelerates, the medical community faces the challenge of balancing immediate health benefits against unknown long-term risks. Ensuring equitable access while monitoring outcomes will be critical as clinical trials continue to evaluate these therapies for younger children.

Timeline

On September 4, 2026, Allan B. Massie stated that physicians and health policy-makers alike have a responsibility to ensure, as use of GLP-1 medications continues to rise, that all young children with obesity who need these drugs have access to them and that these valuable and sometimes costly treatments become available to more than those who have access to health insurance and can afford to visit pediatric clinics. Also on September 4, 2026, Babak J. Orandi noted that the careful use of GLP-1s remains a valuable tool in confronting the obesity epidemic among young Americans. On the same date, Orandi said, "Our study offers the first national overview in young children of the use of GLP-1 drugs to fight the obesity epidemic in the United States and shows that while the absolute numbers of children under the age of 12 receiving GLP-1 treatment is still low, GLP-1 use is accelerating rapidly."

What's New

Babak J. Orandi provided additional context regarding the scale of prescriptions, stating, In context, this is a very small number. Against that denominator, 20,282 GLP-1 children receiving prescriptions represents a tiny fraction of children eligible for treatment. While the number receiving treatment is very small, uptake is accelerating quickly." Further reporting confirmed that the use of GLP-1 drugs among U.S. children under age 12 with obesity has increased rapidly, with 20,282 children aged 8 to 11 receiving prescriptions between January 2019 and June 2026."

The study also noted that clinical trials involving GLP-1 medications for children as young as 6 years old with obesity are currently underway. Additional details revealed that Epic Cosmos, the dataset used in the study, is maintained by Epic Systems Corporation and covers more than 300 million patients across 2,067 hospitals and 47,100 clinics in the United States. It was also confirmed that no GLP-1 medication is FDA-approved for use in children under age 12. Data showed that 13.8 percent of children prescribed GLP-1s had metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, compared to 3 percent of non-users, and 36.9 percent of children prescribed GLP-1s had hyperlipidemia, compared to 8.8 percent of non-users.

How Sources Differ

Perspectives on the implications for young children varied between sources. Allan B. Massie emphasized that physicians and health policy-makers alike have a responsibility to ensure, as use of GLP-1 medications continues to rise, that all young children with obesity who need these drugs have access to them and that these valuable and sometimes costly treatments become available to more than those who have access to health insurance and can afford to visit pediatric clinics. In contrast, Babak J. Orandi focused on the descriptive nature of the findings, stating, "Our study offers the first national overview in young children of the use of GLP-1 drugs to fight the obesity epidemic in the United States and shows that while the absolute numbers of children under the age of 12 receiving GLP-1 treatment is still low, GLP-1 use is accelerating rapidly."

Another point of difference concerned the factors influencing prescription rates. Allan B. Massie advocated for ensuring access for all young children with obesity who need these drugs.