Efficacy and safety of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for BMI Reduction in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Narrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.54.70610Keywords
GLP-1 receptor agonists, semaglutide, liraglutide, exenatide, obesity, metabolic risks, adolescents, children, pediatric populationAbstract
Background. Obesity arises as a global health issue, increasingly affecting children and adolescents. Excess body weight is associated with multiple metabolic risks and poor quality of life. Lifestyle therapy remains the cornerstone of weight management, the obtained effects are often modest. GLP-1 receptor agonists appear to improve BMI reduction, metabolic parameters, and present with good tolerability.
Aim. This narrative review aims to summarize and discuss the current evidence on theefficacy and safety of selected long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists in children and adolescents with obesity.
Material and methods. A literature review was performed using the PubMed database. Studies evaluating the efficacy of using GLP-1 receptor agonists, with a focus on BMI reduction, improvement in metabolic parameters, safety, and tolerability in children and adolescents, were included in the analysis.
Results. Semaglutide appeared to be the most effective GLP-1 receptor agonist in reducing BMI and improving metabolic risk factors. Liraglutide demonstrated moderate effectiveness in body mass reduction and modest improvement in metabolic parameters, with no significant benefits observed in children with Prader-Willi syndrome. Exenatide XR showed no significant effect on BMI reduction and limited benefits in the analyzed population. The most commonly reported side effects across the studies were gastrointestinal disorders, with an overall acceptable safety profile.
Conclusions. Semaglutide and liraglutide are effective pharmacological options to support BMI reduction and improve metabolic profile in the pediatric population. Lifestyle therapy should remain the foundation of body weight reduction, supported by appropriate pharmacological treatment. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of obesity in children and adolescents.
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