Wegovy Prescriptions for US Teens Surge 50% as Weight-Loss Surgery Also Rises Despite GLP-1 Drug Availability
Key Insights
Wegovy prescriptions for US teens increased 50% in 2024 to 14.8 per 100,000 adolescents, up from 9.9 per 100,000 in 2023, according to health data firm Truveta (search) analysis.
Weight-loss surgeries among teens rose 15% from 2021 to 2023, with Hispanic and Black teenagers driving much of the increase despite availability of GLP-1 drugs.
About 23% of American teens aged 12-19 have obesity, representing 8 million adolescents, yet only a small fraction are accessing either surgical or pharmaceutical treatments.
American teenagers are increasingly accessing both pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for obesity, with new data revealing a 50% surge in Wegovy prescriptions alongside continued growth in weight-loss surgeries, despite ongoing debates about long-term safety and access barriers.
Wegovy Use Among Teens Accelerates
The average rate of teens beginning treatment with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy grew 50% in 2024 to 14.8 prescriptions per 100,000 adolescents, according to an analysis by health data firm Truveta (search) shared exclusively with Reuters. This represents a significant increase from 9.9 prescriptions per 100,000 in 2023, the first full year Wegovy was available to children aged 12 and older.
The trend continued into early 2025, with the average rate climbing to 17.3 new prescriptions per 100,000 during the first three months of the year. Truveta (search)'s analysis reviewed electronic health records of 1.3 million patients ages 12 through 17 across 30 U.S. health systems with more than 900 hospitals and 20,000 clinics.
"It's promising that more young people are using these medications, but it's still a very small percentage of patients with severe obesity that are getting access to them," said Dr. Cate Varney, director of obesity medicine at the University of Virginia Health system. "When lifestyle changes alone are insufficient, we need these additional tools."
Surgical Interventions Continue Rising
Despite the availability of GLP-1 drugs, weight-loss surgeries for teens increased 15% between 2021 and 2023, according to research published in The Journal of Pediatrics. The procedures rose from 1,376 patients in 2021 to 1,581 in 2023, with teens averaging 17 years old at the time of surgery.
Gastric sleeve operations dominated these procedures, representing 86% of the surgeries performed. In this procedure, surgeons remove most of the stomach, leaving only a banana-shaped section closed with staples, which reduces food capacity and may affect hormones or bacteria involved in appetite and metabolism.
"Metabolic and bariatric surgery is still considered the gold standard for sustained weight loss in teens and adults," researchers noted, despite the advent of GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound.
Disparities in Treatment Access
The increase in surgical procedures was primarily driven by Hispanic and Black teenagers, groups disproportionately affected by severe obesity. Weight-loss surgeries for Hispanic teens rose from 398 in 2021 to 586 in 2023, while Black teens saw an increase from 266 to 316 procedures during the same period. Conversely, surgeries for white teens fell slightly from 543 to 525.
About one-third of teens undergoing weight-loss surgery had a body mass index (BMI) of more than 50, well above the severe obesity threshold of 30 or greater.
Clinical Experience and Outcomes
At Nemours Children's Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, about 25% of the 2,000 adolescent patients treated at the Healthy Weight and Wellness Clinic in 2024 were prescribed Wegovy or another GLP-1 medication, nearly double the number from 2023. Dr. Thao-Ly Phan, the clinic's medical director, reported that patients taking GLP-1 drugs lost an average of 15 pounds within 6 to 12 months, and nearly 30 pounds after more than a year.
At Cincinnati Children's Hospital, about 15% of adolescents being treated from July 2021 to July 2023 were prescribed Wegovy or similar GLP-1 medications, according to Dr. Robert Siegel, director of the Center for Better Health and Nutrition.
Scope of Teen Obesity Crisis
About 8 million American teens, or 23% of people ages 12 to 19, have obesity, representing a dramatic increase from 5% in 1980, according to U.S. government data. Young people with obesity face significantly higher risks of developing chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular and liver diseases.
About 9% of U.S. teenagers have severe obesity, increasing their risk of health problems like sleep apnea and heart, liver and kidney disease, researchers noted.
Barriers to Treatment Access
Despite growing acceptance, significant barriers remain. Insurance plans often do not cover treatments for obesity, including intensive behavioral counseling, dietician visits, or GLP-1 medications. The drugs aren't covered by Medicaid for obesity treatment in most states and have limited coverage through private insurance.
"The relative number of bariatric surgeries is still pretty low, given the potential benefit and need among kids," said Dr. Sarah Barlow, a professor of pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Safety Concerns and Regulatory Perspectives
Some physicians remain hesitant about GLP-1 drugs for adolescents due to unknown long-term safety effects during critical developmental phases and the potential need for indefinite treatment. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized widespread GLP-1 prescribing to children, citing these medications as an example of "overmedicalization of our kids" in a recent federal health report.
However, Novo Nordisk stated that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, "did not appear to affect growth or pubertal development" during clinical trials involving teens. The company expressed confidence in "the proven safety and efficacy of our GLP-1 medicines."
Dr. Siegel emphasized the need for careful monitoring: "These medications are likely to be needed for a very long time to maintain weight, and we only have a relatively short-term experience with them."