12-month outcomes of GLP - 1 in severe pediatric obesity: real-world data

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Public Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Limited real-world data exists for liraglutide in pediatric obesity, particularly in public healthcare systems of low- and middle-income countries.
• Severe obesity in children and adolescents is a growing global health concern requiring effective management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the real-world effectiveness and safety of liraglutide in managing severe obesity among children and adolescents.
• To evaluate liraglutide's impact on anthropometric measurements and metabolic markers in a pediatric population within a Brazilian public quaternary hospital.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving patients aged 6-17.9 years with a Body Mass Index Z-score (Z-BMI) of +3 or higher.
• Patients received liraglutide (up to 3.0 mg/day) combined with a lifestyle intervention.
• Outcomes including changes in BMI, Z-BMI, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and metabolic markers were tracked over 3, 6, and 12 months.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in Z-BMI and WHtR were observed in both younger children (6-12 years) and adolescents (≥12 years) after 6 and 12 months of liraglutide treatment.
• A substantial percentage of participants achieved clinically significant BMI reductions (≥5% and ≥10%).
• Improvements in lipid profiles (LDL cholesterol), glycemic control (HbA1c), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were noted, with mild and transient adverse events.

Conclusions:

• Liraglutide demonstrated effectiveness in reducing adiposity in children and adolescents with severe obesity in a real-world setting.
• The treatment proved safe and contributed to improved metabolic health in this pediatric population.
• Findings support liraglutide as a viable option for managing severe pediatric obesity within public healthcare systems.