40% of children with obesity no longer classified as obese after weekly semaglutide injections

Early results from Novo Nordisk's STEP Young trial showed semaglutide helped some children with obesity move below the obesity threshold after 68 weeks. The findings add to research on medical support for severe childhood obesity, though fuller data are still awaited.

In Short

• STEP Young enrolled 165 children aged six to under 12 years
• More than 85% participants had class II or class III severe obesity
• Children received weekly semaglutide plus lower calorie diets and exercise

A weekly weight-loss injection helped about 40% of children with obesity fall below the obesity threshold after 68 weeks of treatment, according to early results from a new phase 3 clinical trial. The study, called STEP Young, looked at the effects of semaglutide in children aged six to under 12 who were living with obesity.

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of semaglutide, conducted the trial. Children receiving the medicine were also asked to follow a reduced-calorie diet and increase their physical activity. Researchers compared their results with children who received a placebo.

According to the early findings released by Novo Nordisk, around two in five children treated with semaglutide were no longer classified as having obesity at week 68. In comparison, none of the children in the placebo group reached this outcome.

The findings are important because childhood obesity can affect health from an early age and can continue into adulthood. The researchers say the results could add to the evidence around medical treatment for children with severe obesity, particularly when lifestyle changes alone may not be enough.

WHAT DID THE STEP YOUNG STUDY FIND?

The STEP Young trial included 165 children between six and under 12 years of age. More than 85% of the children participating in the study had class II or class III severe obesity.

The children received a once-weekly injection of semaglutide. Depending on their weight at the beginning of the study, they received a maximum dose of either 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg. The treatment was combined with lifestyle measures, including a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

After 68 weeks, around 40% of children who received semaglutide had moved below the threshold used to classify obesity. No children in the placebo group achieved the same result. The study therefore suggests that semaglutide may have a significant effect on weight and BMI among children living with obesity.

SEMAGLUTIDE WAS STUDIED ALONGSIDE LIFESTYLE CHANGES

The findings do not suggest that the injections were used as a replacement for healthy eating or physical activity.

Children in the trial received semaglutide alongside lifestyle changes. This is important because obesity treatment in children generally involves several areas of support rather than focusing only on weight.

The early trial results also reported that the overall safety and tolerability of semaglutide were consistent with findings from previous Novo Nordisk trials.

However, the detailed results of the STEP Young study have not yet been presented. The full findings are expected to be presented at the Obesity Society’s annual meeting, scheduled to take place from November 14 to 17 in Washington, DC.

WHY CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS A CONCERN

Childhood obesity can have consequences that extend beyond childhood. Professor Ania Jastreboff, director of the Yale Obesity Research Centre, said childhood obesity is concerning because of its immediate and long-term effects on health.

Children living with obesity may also have a higher likelihood of experiencing obesity later in life. The condition can also increase the risk of developing health problems linked to excess weight at an earlier age.

The STEP Young findings therefore come at a time when researchers are looking for additional ways to support children with severe obesity.

WHAT THE FINDINGS MEAN

The study provides early evidence that semaglutide could help some children with obesity achieve a BMI below the obesity threshold when used together with diet and physical activity.

However, the findings are still early results from the trial. More detailed data will be needed to understand the full effects of the treatment, including its benefits, risks and longer-term impact on children.

For now, the STEP Young study adds to growing research into medical approaches for childhood obesity and highlights the possibility of using weight loss medicines as part of treatment for children with severe obesity who may need additional medical support.

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