Obesity Drug Shows Promising Results in Young Children Study

Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has released preliminary findings from a groundbreaking study on the use of weight-loss injections for children aged 6 to 12 suffering from obesity. After just over a year of weekly injections combined with lifestyle guidance, 40.4% of children in the treatment group fell below the obesity threshold. In contrast, none of the children in the control group, who received a placebo and guidance, achieved this outcome.

According to the company, no unusual side effects were observed compared to adults and adolescents using the medication. The full results are slated for presentation at a conference in Washington in November. This trial addresses the growing global trend of childhood and adolescent obesity. In Israel, for example, the rate of overweight children aged 7 rose from 7% in 2019 to 8.5% in 2022, while nearly 13% of 14 to 15-year-olds were affected by obesity in 2022.