Latest news with #Janson
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Weight-loss jabs for obese kids 'are effective and help prevent mealtime rows'
Weight-loss jabs for obese children are effective and help prevent battles around mealtimes, researchers have claimed. Experts presented the findings at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain. They found that the drugs helped obese youngsters lose weight on top of a diet and lifestyle plan. Weight-loss jabs, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by reducing food cravings. They are available on the NHS for adults with a high body mass index (BMI) or through private providers. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) stopped its appraisal of semaglutide (Wegovy) for use in 12 to 17-year-olds after the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, said it was unable to provide evidence for submission. In certain instances where there is a proven clinical need, specialist paediatric clinics can prescribe weight-loss injections. Dr Annika Janson, from Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, presented the new research. She said: "GLP-1 drugs are increasingly used to treat obesity in adults. "They can also be used in children from the age of 12 and clinical trials have shown children lose 5-16% of their body weight after a year of treatment." Alongside this, Dr Janson said the jabs had results "beyond obesity". "The families reported reduced conflicts around food and improved capacity for other lifestyle adaptations," she said. She added: "It was easier to stick to meals and limit snacks. Portions could be downsized. For some children, not being hungry all the time is a new feeling." Side effects of weight-loss drugs include nausea, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vision problems. A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk said the company hadn't submitted evidence for Nice appraisal because it lacked "utility data and risk equations in linking weight loss in adolescents to long-term outcomes." It added that, at this time, it had no intention of making an evidence submission. Last year, said that children in the UK were getting shorter, fatter and sicker due to "shocking levels" of poverty and food deprivation. It found that among 10 to 11-year-olds had increased by 30% since 2006, with one in five children classed as obese by the time they leave primary school. It comes as new data presented by Novo Nordisk showed that Wegovy for adults could help protect against heart disease in the earliest stages. Read more from Sky News: Alongside this, it was said to cut the risk of heart attack, stroke or early death in high-risk patients.
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Children could be given weight loss jabs to help 'reduce mealtime battles'
The drugs help severely obese children to lose weight on top of the diet and lifestyle plan they are already following. Administering weight-loss injections to obese children has been found effective and may provide a respite from mealtime conflicts, according to experts. Researchers convened at the European Congress on Obesity in Málaga, Spain to reveal study results indicating that medications aid significantly overweight young individuals in losing extra pounds alongside their existing diet and lifestyle regimen. Such jabs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, are designed to curb appetite and can be obtained through the NHS for adults with elevated BMI, or privately. Nice halted its review of semaglutide (Wegovy) for childhood obesity management in the 12 to 17 age group after Novo Nordisk, the producer, failed to deliver requisite proof. Yet, paediatric clinics with specialist expertise have the discretion to prescribe these injections when there is a genuine clinical necessity. Side effects reported from these pharmaceuticals encompass nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and disturbances in vision. Karolinska University Hospital's Dr Annika Janson, who showcased the fresh findings, commented: "GLP-1 drugs are increasingly used to treat obesity in adults." She further explained: "They can also be used in children from the age of 12 and clinical trials have shown children lose 5%-16% of their body weight after a year of treatment." Nevertheless, she highlighted: "However, treating children in real-life situations has challenges that don't come up in research studies. "Children have varying degrees of obesity, co-morbidities and complications and may have faced problems in supply of the drug, financing it or taking it. "As a consequence, it is difficult to isolate the effect of adding GLP-1 drugs to the plethora of treatments that are already available." Dr Janson and her team have introduced the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists to their existing treatment regime for child obesity as part of a pioneering study. The research included 1,126 children, with severe obesity, up to the age of 16, undergoing intensive health behaviour and lifestyle therapy (IHBLT) at Stockholm's respected National Childhood Obesity Centre. This form of treatment, IHBLT, spans involvement with not just the affected youngsters but also families and educational institutions, promoting healthy diets, appropriate meal sizes and timings, reduced screen exposure, exercise, and emotional health. Commencing in 2023, approximately one-quarter of the patients started receiving the GLP-1 medication liraglutide. Subsequently, the similar drug semaglutide (Wegovy) was employed in treatment plans. Although BMI reductions remained fairly consistent across the groups until 2022, the addition of the weight loss injection yielded an incremental benefit. Statistics indicate that around 30 per cent of participants on liraglutide shed a meaningful amount of weight beneficial to their health, a slight increase compared to approximately 27 per cent in earlier cohorts without the jab. Despite the modest change, which is influenced by the fact that not all children were consistently medicated, Dr Janson posits this represents a significant trend, especially when noting more pronounced outcomes with semaglutide later in the study. "Only a fraction of the children had GLP-1 drugs and most of those who did started on them six to 12 months into the treatment programme. Longer-term treatment may lead to greater improvements in BMI," she said. "These are just early indications but it does look as if the average effect of being a patient at our clinic has improved after adding GLP-1 drugs to the toolbox." She added: "Many children with severe obesity describe hunger and a strong appetite – both of which GLP-1 receptor agonists are known to help with. "Results beyond obesity are also important. The families reported reduced conflicts around food and improved capacity for other lifestyle adaptations. "It was easier to stick to meals and limit snacks. Portions could be down-sized. For some children, not being hungry all the time is a new feeling. "GLP-1 receptor agonists are clearly beneficial to many children with severe obesity and, while they won't help in all cases, more children should have access to these important medications." A spokesman for Novo Nordisk said: "Novo Nordisk did not submit evidence for a Nice appraisal for semaglutide and liraglutide for managing overweight and obesity in young people aged 12 to 17 years due to a lack of utility data and risk equations in linking weight loss in adolescents to long-term outcomes. "As such, there are significant limitations in estimating the cost-effectiveness in this patient population, utility estimates that adequately capture the full impact on their quality of life, and not enough data to support an economic model that meets the Nice reference case. "At this time, Novo Nordisk does not intend to make an evidence submission for the appraisal of semaglutide and liraglutide for managing overweight and obesity in young people aged 12 to 17 for the use in the NHS. "We will continue to evaluate our evidence package in consideration of supporting any potential future submission for this patient group."
South Wales Guardian
13-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Weight-loss jabs for children ‘are effective and help prevent mealtime battles'
Experts at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, presented findings showing the drugs helped severely obese youngsters shed pounds on top of the diet and lifestyle plan they were already following. Weight-loss jabs, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by reducing food cravings and are available on the NHS for adults with a high body mass index (BMI), or via private providers. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) stopped its appraisal of semaglutide (Wegovy) for managing obesity in children aged 12 to 17 after the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, said it was unable to provide an evidence submission. However, specialist paediatric clinics can prescribe weight-loss injections if there is a proven clinical need. Side-effects of weight-loss drugs include nausea, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vision problems. Dr Annika Janson, from Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden – who presented the new research, said: 'GLP-1 drugs are increasingly used to treat obesity in adults. 'They can also be used in children from the age of 12 and clinical trials have shown children lose 5%-16% of their body weight after a year of treatment. 'However, treating children in real-life situations has challenges that don't come up in research studies. 'Children have varying degrees of obesity, co-morbidities and complications and may have faced problems in supply of the drug, financing it or taking it. 'As a consequence, it is difficult to isolate the effect of adding GLP-1 drugs to the plethora of treatments that are already available.' To address this question, Dr Janson and colleagues added GLP-1 receptor agonists to an existing treatment programme for child obesity. The study involved 1,126 children (52% of them boys) aged up to 16 with severe obesity who were receiving intensive health behaviour and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT) at the National Childhood Obesity Centre in Stockholm. IHBLT involves working with children, families and schools and looks at healthy foods, meal size, meal order, screen time, exercise and psychological wellbeing. From 2023, GLP-1 drug liraglutide was included for around one in four patients. Later on, the drug semaglutide (Wegovy) was used. While the reduction in BMI was similar between the groups until 2022, adding a weight loss jab had an additional effect. Some 30% on liraglutide dropped enough weight to improve their health, compared with around 27% of those treated earlier on with no jab. While the differences do not seem big, and not all children were taking the drug at all points, it suggests a trend, Dr Janson said. She said there were better later results with semaglutide. 'Only a fraction of the children had GLP-1 drugs and most of those who did started on them six to 12 months into the treatment programme. Longer-term treatment may lead to greater improvements in BMI,' she said. 'These are just early indications but it does look as if the average effect of being a patient at our clinic has improved after adding GLP-1 drugs to the toolbox.' She added: 'Many children with severe obesity describe hunger and a strong appetite – both of which GLP-1 receptor agonists are known to help with. 'Results beyond obesity are also important. The families reported reduced conflicts around food and improved capacity for other lifestyle adaptations. 'It was easier to stick to meals and limit snacks. Portions could be down-sized. For some children, not being hungry all the time is a new feeling. 'GLP-1 receptor agonists are clearly beneficial to many children with severe obesity and, while they won't help in all cases, more children should have access to these important medications.' A spokesman for Novo Nordisk said: 'Novo Nordisk did not submit evidence for a Nice appraisal for semaglutide and liraglutide for managing overweight and obesity in young people aged 12 to 17 years due to a lack of utility data and risk equations in linking weight loss in adolescents to long-term outcomes. 'As such, there are significant limitations in estimating the cost-effectiveness in this patient population, utility estimates that adequately capture the full impact on their quality of life, and not enough data to support an economic model that meets the Nice reference case. 'At this time, Novo Nordisk does not intend to make an evidence submission for the appraisal of semaglutide and liraglutide for managing overweight and obesity in young people aged 12 to 17 for the use in the NHS. 'We will continue to evaluate our evidence package in consideration of supporting any potential future submission for this patient group.'
North Wales Chronicle
13-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Weight-loss jabs for children ‘are effective and help prevent mealtime battles'
Experts at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, presented findings showing the drugs helped severely obese youngsters shed pounds on top of the diet and lifestyle plan they were already following. Weight-loss jabs, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by reducing food cravings and are available on the NHS for adults with a high body mass index (BMI), or via private providers. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) stopped its appraisal of semaglutide (Wegovy) for managing obesity in children aged 12 to 17 after the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, said it was unable to provide an evidence submission. However, specialist paediatric clinics can prescribe weight-loss injections if there is a proven clinical need. Side-effects of weight-loss drugs include nausea, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vision problems. Dr Annika Janson, from Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden – who presented the new research, said: 'GLP-1 drugs are increasingly used to treat obesity in adults. 'They can also be used in children from the age of 12 and clinical trials have shown children lose 5%-16% of their body weight after a year of treatment. 'However, treating children in real-life situations has challenges that don't come up in research studies. 'Children have varying degrees of obesity, co-morbidities and complications and may have faced problems in supply of the drug, financing it or taking it. 'As a consequence, it is difficult to isolate the effect of adding GLP-1 drugs to the plethora of treatments that are already available.' To address this question, Dr Janson and colleagues added GLP-1 receptor agonists to an existing treatment programme for child obesity. The study involved 1,126 children (52% of them boys) aged up to 16 with severe obesity who were receiving intensive health behaviour and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT) at the National Childhood Obesity Centre in Stockholm. IHBLT involves working with children, families and schools and looks at healthy foods, meal size, meal order, screen time, exercise and psychological wellbeing. From 2023, GLP-1 drug liraglutide was included for around one in four patients. Later on, the drug semaglutide (Wegovy) was used. While the reduction in BMI was similar between the groups until 2022, adding a weight loss jab had an additional effect. Some 30% on liraglutide dropped enough weight to improve their health, compared with around 27% of those treated earlier on with no jab. While the differences do not seem big, and not all children were taking the drug at all points, it suggests a trend, Dr Janson said. She said there were better later results with semaglutide. 'Only a fraction of the children had GLP-1 drugs and most of those who did started on them six to 12 months into the treatment programme. Longer-term treatment may lead to greater improvements in BMI,' she said. 'These are just early indications but it does look as if the average effect of being a patient at our clinic has improved after adding GLP-1 drugs to the toolbox.' She added: 'Many children with severe obesity describe hunger and a strong appetite – both of which GLP-1 receptor agonists are known to help with. 'Results beyond obesity are also important. The families reported reduced conflicts around food and improved capacity for other lifestyle adaptations. 'It was easier to stick to meals and limit snacks. Portions could be down-sized. For some children, not being hungry all the time is a new feeling. 'GLP-1 receptor agonists are clearly beneficial to many children with severe obesity and, while they won't help in all cases, more children should have access to these important medications.' A spokesman for Novo Nordisk said: 'Novo Nordisk did not submit evidence for a Nice appraisal for semaglutide and liraglutide for managing overweight and obesity in young people aged 12 to 17 years due to a lack of utility data and risk equations in linking weight loss in adolescents to long-term outcomes. 'As such, there are significant limitations in estimating the cost-effectiveness in this patient population, utility estimates that adequately capture the full impact on their quality of life, and not enough data to support an economic model that meets the Nice reference case. 'At this time, Novo Nordisk does not intend to make an evidence submission for the appraisal of semaglutide and liraglutide for managing overweight and obesity in young people aged 12 to 17 for the use in the NHS. 'We will continue to evaluate our evidence package in consideration of supporting any potential future submission for this patient group.'
Leader Live
13-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Weight-loss jabs for children ‘are effective and help prevent mealtime battles'
Experts at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, presented findings showing the drugs helped severely obese youngsters shed pounds on top of the diet and lifestyle plan they were already following. Weight-loss jabs, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by reducing food cravings and are available on the NHS for adults with a high body mass index (BMI), or via private providers. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) stopped its appraisal of semaglutide (Wegovy) for managing obesity in children aged 12 to 17 after the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, said it was unable to provide an evidence submission. However, specialist paediatric clinics can prescribe weight-loss injections if there is a proven clinical need. Side-effects of weight-loss drugs include nausea, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vision problems. Dr Annika Janson, from Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden – who presented the new research, said: 'GLP-1 drugs are increasingly used to treat obesity in adults. 'They can also be used in children from the age of 12 and clinical trials have shown children lose 5%-16% of their body weight after a year of treatment. 'However, treating children in real-life situations has challenges that don't come up in research studies. 'Children have varying degrees of obesity, co-morbidities and complications and may have faced problems in supply of the drug, financing it or taking it. 'As a consequence, it is difficult to isolate the effect of adding GLP-1 drugs to the plethora of treatments that are already available.' To address this question, Dr Janson and colleagues added GLP-1 receptor agonists to an existing treatment programme for child obesity. The study involved 1,126 children (52% of them boys) aged up to 16 with severe obesity who were receiving intensive health behaviour and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT) at the National Childhood Obesity Centre in Stockholm. IHBLT involves working with children, families and schools and looks at healthy foods, meal size, meal order, screen time, exercise and psychological wellbeing. From 2023, GLP-1 drug liraglutide was included for around one in four patients. Later on, the drug semaglutide (Wegovy) was used. While the reduction in BMI was similar between the groups until 2022, adding a weight loss jab had an additional effect. Some 30% on liraglutide dropped enough weight to improve their health, compared with around 27% of those treated earlier on with no jab. While the differences do not seem big, and not all children were taking the drug at all points, it suggests a trend, Dr Janson said. She said there were better later results with semaglutide. 'Only a fraction of the children had GLP-1 drugs and most of those who did started on them six to 12 months into the treatment programme. Longer-term treatment may lead to greater improvements in BMI,' she said. 'These are just early indications but it does look as if the average effect of being a patient at our clinic has improved after adding GLP-1 drugs to the toolbox.' She added: 'Many children with severe obesity describe hunger and a strong appetite – both of which GLP-1 receptor agonists are known to help with. 'Results beyond obesity are also important. The families reported reduced conflicts around food and improved capacity for other lifestyle adaptations. 'It was easier to stick to meals and limit snacks. Portions could be down-sized. For some children, not being hungry all the time is a new feeling. 'GLP-1 receptor agonists are clearly beneficial to many children with severe obesity and, while they won't help in all cases, more children should have access to these important medications.' A spokesman for Novo Nordisk said: 'Novo Nordisk did not submit evidence for a Nice appraisal for semaglutide and liraglutide for managing overweight and obesity in young people aged 12 to 17 years due to a lack of utility data and risk equations in linking weight loss in adolescents to long-term outcomes. 'As such, there are significant limitations in estimating the cost-effectiveness in this patient population, utility estimates that adequately capture the full impact on their quality of life, and not enough data to support an economic model that meets the Nice reference case. 'At this time, Novo Nordisk does not intend to make an evidence submission for the appraisal of semaglutide and liraglutide for managing overweight and obesity in young people aged 12 to 17 for the use in the NHS. 'We will continue to evaluate our evidence package in consideration of supporting any potential future submission for this patient group.'
