Fat jabs cut asthma attacks by up to 40%, study shows
Novo Nordisk says semaglutide outperformed placebo on BMI reduction in children aged 6 to under 12 after 68 weeks. All participants also followed a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity throughout the trial.
- 40.4% of treated children were no longer classified as having obesity at week 68.
- 300-fold increase in U.S. GLP-1 prescriptions for children under 12 since 2019.
- 20,282 children under 12 received GLP-1 drugs during the study period.
- 93.7% of children prescribed the drugs had severe obesity.
Why it matters: GLP-1 drugs are not approved for children under 12, but clinical guidelines permit use in children as young as 8 in certain cases. An estimated 20% of U.S. children have obesity without diabetes.
- A 2023 article in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science warned that reduced caloric intake from GLP-1 drugs could affect growth and development in children.
- A separate real-world study of UK health records found semaglutide was linked to nearly a 40% reduction in asthma attacks and a 20% reduction in COPD flare-ups.
How 13 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage divides on whether rising GLP-1 use in young children reflects appropriate medical progress or an undertested expansion into a vulnerable population.
Center coverage, 8 sources: The center presents the STEP Young trial results and the surge in pediatric prescriptions as parallel news items, letting the data and Novo's statements speak without added emphasis.
Newsweek13hGLP-1 weight-loss drugs may help with sleep apnea—experts explain how
Reuters2dNovo Nordisk says semaglutide cut obesity rates in young children in trial
The Hill13hGLP-1 prescriptions for kids up more than 30,000 percent since 2019WNCWFLA News Channel 814hGLP-1 prescriptions for kids up more than 30,000% since 2019WYWKBN Youngstown12hGLP-1 prescriptions for kids up more than 30,000% since 2019Left coverage, 2 sources: The left emphasizes the potential respiratory benefits of semaglutide and frames the research as encouraging evidence for broader therapeutic use, while noting the need for further trials.
Right coverage, 3 sources: The right highlights both the dramatic rise in GLP-1 prescriptions among young children and clinical warnings about unintended effects on growth, alongside positive asthma findings.
What’s next: Professor Chloe Bloom said the asthma findings should not change treatment decisions until confirmed in clinical trials.
- NYU Langone lead investigator Dr. Babak Orandi said GLP-1 use in under-12s is accelerating rapidly.
- Will STEP Young data be sufficient for Novo Nordisk to seek regulatory approval for semaglutide in children under 12?
- What are the long-term effects of semaglutide on growth and development in young children?
- Do the asthma benefits observed in adults extend to children, and are they driven by weight loss or a direct anti-inflammatory effect?