{"id":632512,"date":"2025-06-09T18:30:38","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T22:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=632512"},"modified":"2025-10-07T14:15:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:15:59","slug":"glp-1-age-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/glp-1-age-restrictions\/","title":{"rendered":"Are there age restrictions on GLP-1s?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the last few years, pharmaceutical advancements have led to a new class of drugs that treat <\/span>Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>obesity<\/span><\/a>. Known as <\/span>glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists<\/span><\/a> (GLP-1 RAs or GLP-1s), these medications are incredibly effective for blood sugar control and <\/span>weight loss<\/span><\/a>. Most GLP-1s are only FDA-approved for use in adults. However, four injectable GLP-1 drugs, <\/span>Saxenda<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>liraglutide<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>semaglutide<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>Bydureon BCISE<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>exenatide<\/span><\/a>), and <\/span>Trulicity<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>dulaglutide<\/span><\/a>), have been approved for use in younger age groups.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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Are GLP-1 drugs safe for children and adolescents?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two GLP-1 weight loss drugs for pediatric patients ages 12 to 17 with obesity: <\/span>Saxenda<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a>. The FDA has also approved two GLP-1 diabetes drugs, <\/span>Bydureon BCISE<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Trulicity<\/span><\/a>, for patients 10 y age and older. However, that doesn\u2019t mean every young person who wants a GLP-1 gets a prescription, especially when the drug is used for weight loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGLP-1 medications like <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a> aren\u2019t a first step,\u201d says <\/span>Heather Gosnell, MD,<\/span><\/a> a pediatrician and plant-based health coach in Phoenix, Arizona. \u201cThey\u2019re for teens who have struggled to improve their health with lifestyle changes alone.\u201d She says clinicians must consider each patient\u2019s body mass index (BMI), blood lab results, and whether lifestyle modifications have been tried before prescribing <\/span>Saxenda or Wegovy<\/span><\/a> to a child, adolescent, or adult.<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits of GLP-1 use in children and adolescents<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201c<\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a> offers significant benefits for teens with obesity, including a <\/span>16% drop<\/span><\/a> in BMI and improvements in metabolic health, which may lower long-term disease risk,\u201d says Dr. Gosnell.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, treating an adolescent\u2019s obesity can improve their overall health now and in the future because <\/span>obesity<\/span><\/a> increases the risk of serious health problems, including <\/span>cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/a>, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes mellitus, and certain types of cancer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Risk of GLP-1 use in children and adolescents<\/span><\/h3>\n

GLP-1s work by suppressing appetite, which can be problematic for adolescents whose bodies are still growing. <\/span>Research<\/span><\/a> shows that nutrition is critical to healthy development during puberty. Dr.Gosnell says it\u2019s essential for prescribers to monitor growth and nutrition in adolescents on these medications carefully.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another potential problem? Disordered eating. When it comes to adolescents, treating obesity without first completing a psychiatric evaluation \u201ccan sometimes cause more harm than good,\u201d says <\/span>Sid Khurana, MD<\/span><\/a>, DFAPA, DFAACAP, a board-certified psychiatrist, clinical assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, and medical director of Nevada Mental Health. \u201cIt can potentially <\/span>worsen weight obsession<\/span><\/a> and risk in folks with anorexia,\u201d he adds.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GLP-1 use in older adults<\/span><\/h2>\n

There is \u201cno absolute cutoff\u201d when it comes to GLP-1 use in older adults, and these medications are generally considered \u201csafe in seniors,\u201d according to<\/span> Mir Ali<\/span><\/a>, MD, a board-certified bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. Overall, GLP-1 use poses the same benefits for older adults as younger adults: Blood sugar control and weight management. That said, there are a few aging-related risks to understand before starting weight loss medications like Wegovy or <\/span>Zepbound<\/span><\/a>, including:<\/span><\/p>\n