Researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital analysed medical records of 2,031 children aged 10–17 who started GLP-1 medications (drugs like Saxenda and Wegovy) between 2017 and 2022. These medications are prescribed for weight loss, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes. The question was straightforward: do young patients develop nutritional problems when taking these drugs?
GLP-1 medications work by reducing appetite and food intake. During adolescence—a period of rapid bone growth and physical development—this reduced eating can create a nutritional risk that doctors hadn't fully tracked before.
One in six teens developed a nutritional deficiency within a year
Among the 2,031 young patients studied, 16.8% were diagnosed with at least one nutritional deficiency during the first year of treatment. Vitamin D deficiency was by far the most common, affecting 12.4% of children. Iron and calcium—nutrients critical for bone strength and development during the teenage years—were also concerning, though the study didn't specify their exact rates.
The medications most often prescribed were liraglutide (Victoza and Saxenda) at 78.6% of cases, followed by dulaglutide (Trulicity) and semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy).
Most teens didn't receive nutritional support when they needed it most
The study revealed a significant gap in care. Only 5% of young patients received nutritional counselling within 30 days of starting their GLP-1 medication. Even at six months—when deficiencies were already developing—fewer than 25% had received any nutritional guidance. Researchers emphasised that adolescence is precisely when nutritional deficiencies can have lasting effects on bone health and overall development, making this timing critical.
Starting nutritional monitoring alongside medication, not after problems appear
- Request nutritional assessment at the start of GLP-1 treatment, not weeks later, to prevent deficiencies from developing.
- Ensure your teen's doctor checks vitamin D, iron, and calcium levels regularly during the first year on medication.
- Ask for a referral to a paediatric nutritionist familiar with GLP-1 use to guide food choices that support growth during adolescence.