Weight loss medication : Obesity is increasing rapidly among young children. Due to this, their bodies are victims of many types of diseases. Many parents use medications to reduce obesity in children, but they are also concerned about the safety of these medications for children.
A new study has put an end to this worry. According to a study, a weight loss drug is absolutely safe for children under 12 years of age who are prone to obesity. Let us tell you that in the last few years, GLP-1 agonist for weight loss has become very popular all over the world. Due to this, there has also been a shortage of it. Even though it is expensive, people still use it. But very little research has been done on how these new drugs work on young children.
How safe is the drug to reduce obesity?
According to the WHO, the problem of obesity in children and adolescents has quadrupled since 1990. However, there is no specific drug to treat obesity in children. The study focused on an old GLP-1 agonist called Liraglutide. It is sold under the brand name Saxenda by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which also makes the blockbuster drugs semaglutide Ozempic and Vegovy.
what is the study
The phase 3 trials in the United States, funded by Novo Nordisk, were the first trial to look at the effects of liraglutide on children under 12 years old. It involved 82 obese children aged 6 to 12, some of whom were randomly given a daily injection of liraglutide, while others received a placebo. The children were also encouraged to exercise and eat healthy foods.
According to the study, after just over a year, 46 percent of children taking the drug saw at least a 5 percent reduction in their body mass index (BMI). Only 9 percent of children in the placebo group saw such a reduction in BMI, which also takes into account height. It was used because children of this age grow quickly. Experts said side effects such as vomiting and nausea were also seen in some children taking the drug, similar to side effects seen in adults.
Also read: Be careful if you work sitting on a chair for a long time, sedentary work harms these organs.
What are the warnings regarding obesity?
Lead author Claudia Fox of the University of Minnesota said obese children are being asked to focus more on diet and exercise alone, but the new study has raised hopes that the drug could help make children healthier and better. However, a warning has been issued about the weight-loss injections.
Disclaimer: Some information given in the news is based on media reports. Before implementing any suggestion, you must consult the concerned expert.
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