Saginaw, Michigan – As the rates of obesity continue to rise among children and teens in the United States, a growing number of teenagers are turning to powerful new weight loss medications in an effort to improve their health. The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its guidelines to include the use of anti-obesity medications for children ages 12 and up, acknowledging that behavioral and lifestyle modifications may not always be sufficient for tackling the issue of obesity in young people.
For 16-year-old Demi Buckley from Saginaw, Michigan, her struggle with weight loss led her to seek out alternative solutions after diet and exercise did not yield the results she had hoped for. After seeing her mother’s success with a diabetes drug prescribed off-label for weight loss, Demi decided to try a weight loss drug for herself. She began taking Wegovy, a newly approved medication, and has since lost 58 pounds, leading to not only a physical transformation but also an improvement in her mental health, allowing her to go off medications for anxiety and depression.
Similarly, 15-year-old Brenden Gallagher from Los Angeles, California, also saw positive results after being prescribed a weight loss medication off-label by his doctor, leading to a 25-pound weight loss. His parents, Dawn and Jayson Gallagher, have noticed significant changes in his confidence and mood, expressing relief at seeing their son come out of his shell and participate in activities he previously avoided.
The use of these weight loss medications, such as semaglutide, has sparked debate and conversation among health experts and advocates. While some see the medications as a valuable tool in addressing the growing obesity epidemic among young people, others have raised concerns about potential side effects and the long-term impact on growth and development.
It’s important to note the rarity of the state in which this struggle has gone to. In a lot of instances the medications are pricey and it’s incredibly difficult for insurance companies to cover them. In the case of Candice Mott’s daughter, Jamison had elevated liver enzymes, a matter that generated much concern. Despite trying to lose weight through exercise and meal preparation, their efforts didn’t produce results, warranting the use of a GLP-1 drug.
Dr. Sheila Magge, a pediatric endocrinologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, highlights the thorough evaluation process that patients go through before being prescribed a weight loss medication, emphasizing that it’s not a substitute for exercise and nutrition, but rather an additional measure for those who have tried traditional methods without success.
Overall, the use of weight loss medications in teenagers reflects the complex challenges of managing obesity in young people, and the need for a multidisciplinary approach that addresses both medical and behavioral aspects of the issue. As the conversation around these medications continues, it’s clear that more research and dialogue is needed to fully understand their impact and determine the best course of action for treating obesity in adolescents.