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America's war on childhood obesity just got HOT as Wegovy and Ozempic get key FDA nods

'Their size might be contributing to high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high cholesterol, high blood sugar,' nutritionist Kim Shapira warned

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: It is no secret that America has a serious weight problem, especially among children. Obesity trends have been on the uptick for the last two decades, and now the FDA approval of two popular weight loss drugs has rekindled the discussion around children's overall health. Wegovy, a popular weight loss drug, is now available to children as young as 12. Manufacturer Novo Nordisk revealed that the Food and Drug Administration had extended the drug's approval to include children after having received regulatory approval for adult use last year.

Clinical trials showed that teens aged 12 to 17 who took a weekly injection of the drug lost at least 14 percent of their body weight over 64 weeks. The results were almost consistent with the trials for adults, where recipients lost 15 percent of their weight after 68 weeks. Wegovy and its sister drug Ozempic shot to prominence this year due to their effectiveness in aiding weight loss. Tesla CEO Elon Musk touted the drug for his body transformation, and it is rumored that Hollywood stars like Kim Kardashian have also benefited from it. That said, there are some concerns about the long-term effectiveness of Wegovy, after one recent study found that users would gain back the lost weight if they stopped using the drug.

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As mentioned, the childhood obesity epidemic in the US is well documented. According to CDC, n 2016, at least 18.5% of youth ages 2 to 19 were classified as obese, and the numbers have continued to worsen since. What's more? At least 11% of our 17 to 24-year-olds reportedly do not qualify for military service due to excess weight. Combining this with other eligibility factors such as crime or drug abuse, the ineligibility figure has been held at a staggering 71% for several years. The implications of such data combined with the impact of substandard nutrition on our overall well-being calls for immediate action. "The prevalence of teen obesity in the US continues to rise, affecting teens and their families. Now, more than ever, we need new options to support teens," said Dr Aaron Kelly, a pediatric obesity expert at the University of Minnesota in a statement. "This FDA approval offers an additional tool to address this serious, chronic, progressive disease," Kelly said of Wegovy's FDA green light.

The trial for the new drug was carried out by the University of Minnesota, which tested the weekly injection of 201 clinically obese youngsters. According to the Daily Mail, two-thirds of the sample group were given Wegovy, while the rest received weight-loss counseling but no medication. Starting with an average weight of 235 lbs, the group that used Wegovy lost 33 lbs on average across the 16-month trial. A third of the participants that took the drug managed to lose at least one-fifth of their overall body weight. While the jab was found safe to use, the most likely side effects were found to be nausea and vomiting. The group was monitored for three months after the study concluded. Researchers found that both groups regained the lost weight during this period, but it was most pronounced in the drug group.

The dosages for teens are reportedly the same as they are for adults. They can start with a 0.25mg weekly injection that can be taken in the thigh or arm. The size of dosage increases every month before reaching a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg in the fourth month. The majority of the public will be able to access Wegovy via prescription and insurance will cover it in most cases. That said, those who are not obese but want to use either drug will need to pay more than $1,000 out-of-pocket to obtain it.

It's worth noting that acquiring these drugs can be a challenge, considering Wegovy is currently in a shortage and Americans have not been able to start a new treatment course for over a month now. Ozempic has become an alternative to Wegovy, considering both are manufactured by Novo and contain the active ingredient semaglutide. However, due to so many using Ozempic as an alternative, it is also facing shortages.

How it works

Semaglutide was originally designed to treat diabetes considering it helps the pancreas release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Scientists later found that the drug also had the side-effect of reducing appetite and thus resulted in weight loss. Upon consumption of food, cells in the intestine reportedly release a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This makes its way to the hypothalamus in the center of the brain and activates the region to trigger feelings of satiety. While the natural release of GLP-1 tells the body to stop eating, it only lasts for a couple of minutes. On the other hand, semaglutide reportedly keeps it active for days. 

Meanwhile, there is controversy surrounding Ozempic considering one of its immediate impacts is mild to severe nausea when thinking about food. Dr Daniel Ghiyam, whose clinic in Simi Valley, California, is flooded by requests for Ozempic and Wegovy prescriptions, told Sky News, "The biggest complaint I get is patients going to their favorite restaurant, and saying 'I had two bites of a steak and I can't eat it, I feel sick.'" However, there are some other potential side effects as well, including pancreatitis, gallstones, and a potentially increased risk of thyroid cancer.

It's also worth noting that America's diet industry is nearly $58 billion and more than a third of its population is obese. But the danger of offering people a "quick fix" for weight loss is not lost on the professionals recommending the drugs. "We are in an obesity epidemic, the average American gained 29 pounds (13.15 kg) during Covid," said LA-based nutritionist Kim Shapira. "Their size might be contributing to high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high cholesterol, high blood sugar… this is going to change things. I think doctors have a real responsibility here, to make sure that it's prescribed to the right person at the right time for the right reasons," Shapira added.