Public interest in weight management medications such as Wegovy and Ozempic is experiencing a remarkable surge. Yet, comprehensive national data on their distribution across the United States must be collected. A recent study conducted by Michigan Medicine has revealed a significant escalation in the usage of these weight loss medications among young individuals aged 12 to 25 years, particularly among females.
The study utilised data from 2020 to 2023, sourced from a national database encompassing 92% of pharmacies. This analysis indicated a staggering 594% rise in the monthly usage figures for adolescents and young adults taking Wegovy, Ozempic, and other glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). The increase in usage among females was particularly pronounced; adolescent girls between 12 and 17 years old saw a rise of 588%, compared to a 504% increase among their male counterparts. Similarly, the number of female young adults aged 18 to 25 using GLP-1RAs jumped by 659%, in contrast to a 481% increase observed in male young adults.
Joyce Lee, MD, MPH, the study’s principal author and a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Michigan Medical School, highlighted that this study is the first of its kind to document national dispensing trends for GLP-1RAs among the youth. These medications were initially approved for managing type 2 diabetes in 2005 and later for weight control in 2014. Interest in GLP-1RAs soared further following the approval of semaglutide under the brand name Wegovy for adult weight management in 2021, and even more so when its use was approved for adolescents towards the end of 2022.
The findings indicated that endocrinologists, family medicine physicians, and nurse practitioners are the leading prescribers of these medications to the youth, pointing to the need for targeted educational efforts to ensure safe and appropriate use. The study suggests a particular focus on female patients due to the marked increase in their usage rates, educating them about the potential safety concerns of GLP-1RAs during pregnancy.
Additionally, the report noted a rise in the dispensing of Ozempic among the youth despite its lack of approval for use in children for either type 2 diabetes or weight management. This trend indicates a growing prevalence of off-label use in weight management among adolescents and young adults, as stated by Kao-Ping Chua, MD, the study’s senior author and a CHEAR Centre member.
Joyce Lee also raised concerns regarding the long-term implications of using GLP-1RAs, given their high cost and the ongoing uncertainty about their effects on growth and development in younger populations. The increasing reliance on these medications underscores the crucial need to thoroughly understand their long-term safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness in treating adolescents and young adults.
More information: Joyce M. Lee et al, Dispensing of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists to Adolescents and Young Adults, 2020-2023, JAMA. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2024.7112
Journal information: JAMA Provided by Michigan Medicine- University of Michigan
