Are popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy safe for kids?
Popular drugs for weight loss are now being prescribed to kids as young as 12.
It's been nearly two years since the FDA approved their use in kids, but some are questioning if these drugs are safe for teens in the long run. Others argue that the health benefits of GLP-1 drugs outweigh the risks.
Malya Jones tells Channel 11 that life before getting on weight loss drugs was difficult.
'I've always like been overweight and I've tried workouts and I tried eating healthier and nothing has really worked,' she said. 'Since I've started the medication, it's really helped me and it's boost my energy and my confidence a lot.'
At her heaviest, Malya weighed 30 pounds and was living with high blood pressure.
'Last time I did go to the doctor, since my A1C was normal, I already got off one medication,' she said.
'My heaviest was almost 370 pounds,' Jeremiah Jimenez told us.
He's lost more than 100 pounds since starting Wegovy last year.
'I have been fortunate enough to see really the true evolution of these medications,' Dr. Daniel HSIA with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta said.
He's studied GLP-1 drugs for years.
'We don't know the decades-long impacts that this is going to have,' he said.
Some medical studies show these drugs can lead to under-eating, not getting enough calories for growth or abuse of these drugs by those with eating disorders.
But, families say the decision to put their teens on GLP-1's didn't come lightly.
'Seeing her being so depressed about her weight, crying sometimes about her weight,' Marthe Jones said.
In 2022, the FDA opened the door, allowing teens 12 years and older to be prescribed Semaglutide, it's the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.
Semaglutide dispense rate increased by 594% since 2020 in teens in young adults.
'It was like a hallelujah moment,' said Dr. Jessica Riley, a pediatric obesity specialist at Children's. 'These medications not only reduce appetite by triggering those appetite satiety centers, right, but also by encouraging the pancreas to produce more insulin.'
Once prescribed, Riley says they don't just monitor weight loss, but consider blood pressure reduction, mental health, BMI and fat tissue decreases.
'The most common reason to take a patient off a GLP-1 medication has to do with side effects,' she said.
Those side effects include vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.
Doctors say taking these drugs early could lower the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Parents say the pros outweigh the cons.
'It's a game changer. It's going to save, it's saving lives,' Suzie Jimenez said.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Breakthrough procedure helps prevent amputations for Sacramento area patients
( — A breakthrough surgery helping save limbs and lives took place in Sacramento on Wednesday morning. The procedure aims to treat people suffering from Peripheral Artery Disease. PAD is a serious and rarely-treated circulatory condition that restricts blood flow to the limbs due to narrowed blood vessels. It kills more people than breast, colon, and prostate cancer combined. 'Plaque that builds up in these arteries causes not only hardening of the arteries but also plaque in these blood vessels,' said Dr. Inder Singh, an interventional cardiovascular specialist at TLC Vascular. When blood can't flow properly, minor wounds can become dangerous. They can lead to infection and, in some cases, amputation. Michaels Distributing Center in San Joaquin County set to close, affecting over 200 jobs 'If they get an injury or they get a wound or they get a scratch, those will not heal because they don't have enough, adequate perfusion to heal those wounds,' Dr. Singh said. Helping to change patient outcomes, Dr. Singh is now performing a first-of-its-kind procedure using a newly FDA-cleared removable stent called SPUR. 'The idea with it is that basically that kind of treatment that deep penetrates into the tissue and treats it, it will prevent future closure or at least prolong the time from when the blood vessels close,' said Dr. Singh. 'Enabling the patients to be able to heal their wounds, which is really the main outcome we're looking for.' is the first in the Sacramento area to use SPUR, designed specifically for the small, fragile arteries below the knee. Unlike a traditional stent, the spur temporarily holds the vessel open and then is removed, leaving nothing behind. Charges filed against former Cal Fire employee in child pornography case 'We can see somebody on an outpatient basis one day and actually fix a problem rather than put a band-aid on, you know, the incorrect problem,' said Shelby Adney, a nurse practitioner at TLC Vascular. It's an innovative procedure now preventing amputations, healing wounds, and maintaining patients' normal lives. 'Once you can preserve that and heal their wounds… they get their life back,' Dr. Singh said. 'They're ambulatory. They can spend time with their family. You can do a lot of things that most people expect to do.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Drugs alone not the answer', says top GP as he talks about weight loss jabs
A leading GP and TV medic has told fitness industry professionals gathered in Bolton that drugs alone are not the way to fight obesity. Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, a regular guest on Channel 4's "Steph's Packed Lunch" and the lifestyle and physical activity lead for the Royal College of General Practitioners, shared this sentiment at a professional development event for the health, fitness, and wellbeing sector. He was addressing the professionals, at the Bolton Arena Community Sports Village, on the roll-out of GLP-1 drugs, sometimes referred to colloquially as fat jabs or fat pills. These medicines, which can be taken as tablets or injections, are used to treat type 2 diabetes and can aid weight loss by reducing a patient's appetite. Dr Al-Zubaidi said: "The roll-out of GLP-1s within primary care is very much the hot topic at the moment. "It is going to transform how we deliver primary care – and a lot of other things. "As we roll out GLP-1 therapies in primary care, we must resist the temptation to settle for the minimal scalable model of lifestyle support. "I was emphasising that people deserve better than that. "Our patients deserve a comprehensive, multi-component approach – nutrition, behavioural and psychological support, sleep and stress management, physical activity, and addiction care all working in harmony." His remarks come during an ongoing debate within the fitness sector about the role of GLP-1s in addressing obesity. The event was hosted by the LFX network in partnership with GM Active, a group made up of 12 leisure and community organisations – including Bolton Arena – that manage most publicly owned leisure and physical activity facilities on behalf of the 10 authorities across Greater Manchester. GM Active chair, Andy King, said: "It's not often a 'moment in time' occurs that you know will be considered a 'turning point' in the future, yet this event will be one of those, I am sure. "Thanks to the LFX network, GM Active is set fair to really understand how we can support those people who, through one way or another, have opted to utilise these tools to assist them to lose weight and help them to sustain their gains for the longer term through pragmatic and people-centred, wrap-around support." READ MORE: Bolton charity boss honoured with invite to Palace garden party Three Bolton businesses named for not paying minimum wage 'Top local chippy' nominated for award - cast your vote Dr Al-Zubaidi added: "The fitness professionals in that packed room have shown they're ready to play their part – now it's time for all of us to turn that eagerness into action." Neil Hutchinson, managing director of Bolton Arena Community Sports Village, said: "We've been working on a new health and wellbeing strategy for Bolton over the last six months, so I was keen to host this event and be at the front of this discussion. "We aim to be on the front foot with this in Bolton and ready to support local GPs and primary care in this revolutionary healthcare development."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Eating this Middle Eastern staple daily can lower your cholesterol: study
Give peas a chance! A little legume widely beloved in the Middle Eastern world can offer massive benefits to your heart, a new study has found. And the best part is that this versatile, beige gem is incredibly affordable and probably already in your pantry. The research — recently presented at the NUTRITION 2025 conference — identified chickpeas as the key to significantly lowering cholesterol and inflammation in people with pre-diabetes. More research would be needed to gain a larger sense of the health benefits, particularly in people who are not prediabetic. The study included only 72 participants and lasted just 12 weeks, and the results were similar to eating white rice. However, the findings align with other research indicating chickpeas lead the way in heart-healthy foods. The hummus veg's high fiber content, particularly soluble fiber, is believed to bind with cholesterol in the digestive system and help flush it out of the body. The fiber also promotes healthy gut bacteria and keeps the bowel moving, while chickpeas' low glycemic index can contribute to better blood sugar levels. Legumes in general can mimic the hunger-killing effects of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, thereby promoting weight loss by keeping you fuller for longer. A cup of chickpeas can deliver over 12.5 grams of fiber and nearly 15 grams of plant-based protein — all for under 270 calories. They're also a rich source of iron, potassium and magnesium — essential nutrients that support overall health. The new study found that black beans had a similar effect on heart health, which is no real surprise. A cup of cooked black beans provides about 15 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber at under 230 calories. They're also rich in antioxidants — particularly anthocyanins, the same compounds that give blueberries their health rap — which help fight inflammation and may reduce the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and cancer. Plus, black beans boast key nutrients like folate, iron, magnesium and potassium, which support everything from brain function to healthy blood pressure. 'The soluble fiber in these legumes helps to lower cholesterol by reducing how much is absorbed into the bloodstream,' registered dietitian Maddie Gallivan, who was not involved with the new study, told Medical News Today. 'When eaten as part of a diverse, plant-rich diet, beans and chickpeas can support a healthy gut microbiome.'
