Long-term Management of Childhood Obesity with Liraglutide
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
Translated by Nhi Phuong Quynh Le, B.A |
Posted on March 10th, 2025
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Over the past few decades, Vietnam has seen a significant rise in childhood obesity. This trend is especially worrisome because childhood obesity greatly elevates the likelihood of developing lifelong complications such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In response to this concern, Novo Nordisk sponsored a study examining the use of liraglutide—a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist—for weight management in young children.
The phase 3 clinical study included 82 children, aged 6 to 12 years, all classified as obese with a body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile for their age and sex. At baseline, the participants had an average body weight of 70.2 kg and an average BMI of 31. They were randomly assigned to receive either a daily subcutaneous injection of a placebo or 3 mg of liraglutide. Liraglutide acts by activating GLP-1 receptors, which helps reduce appetite and enhance feelings of fullness. Additionally, all participants received counseling on lifestyle modifications, including increasing physical activity and adopting a healthy diet.
After 56 weeks of treatment, participants who received daily injections of 3 mg liraglutide demonstrated an average 5.8% decrease in body mass index (BMI) from baseline, in contrast to the 1.6% increase observed among those in the placebo group. However, liraglutide use was associated with a higher incidence of gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The authors noted that the current study had certain limitations—namely, the absence of an internationally standardized definition of childhood obesity, limited information on past eating disorders, and a lack of bone mineral density measurements—highlighting areas for improvement in future research.
The phase 3 clinical study included 82 children, aged 6 to 12 years, all classified as obese with a body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile for their age and sex. At baseline, the participants had an average body weight of 70.2 kg and an average BMI of 31. They were randomly assigned to receive either a daily subcutaneous injection of a placebo or 3 mg of liraglutide. Liraglutide acts by activating GLP-1 receptors, which helps reduce appetite and enhance feelings of fullness. Additionally, all participants received counseling on lifestyle modifications, including increasing physical activity and adopting a healthy diet.
After 56 weeks of treatment, participants who received daily injections of 3 mg liraglutide demonstrated an average 5.8% decrease in body mass index (BMI) from baseline, in contrast to the 1.6% increase observed among those in the placebo group. However, liraglutide use was associated with a higher incidence of gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The authors noted that the current study had certain limitations—namely, the absence of an internationally standardized definition of childhood obesity, limited information on past eating disorders, and a lack of bone mineral density measurements—highlighting areas for improvement in future research.