Criteria and Precautions for Wegovy Treatment for Childhood Obesity

Did you know that Korea ranks first in childhood and adolescent obesity rates among East Asian countries?

As Westernized eating habits have caused children’s weight to increase and their height growth to not proceed normally, more parents are becoming concerned.

Childhood and adolescent obesity is not just a matter of weight. It can also cause complications related to all body systems, including chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, early puberty, and sleep apnea.

It can also lead to emotional problems such as lowered self-confidence about appearance, emotional instability, and withdrawal from interpersonal relationships, so it is necessary to manage standard body weight.

What Is Childhood Obesity?

Childhood obesity does not simply mean weighing a lot. It is based on weight charts appropriate for age (in months) and sex.

In other words, it cannot be considered obesity simply because a child weighs a lot. It is not judged by BMI alone.

Generally, if a child with the same age and sex has a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile, it is classified as “obesity,” and between the 85th and 95th percentile, it is classified as “overweight.”

Difficult to Improve with Lifestyle Changes Alone

Unlike adult obesity, childhood obesity has an important variable called “growth,” so improving lifestyle habits such as diet, exercise, and activity levels is the top priority.

However, since the rate at which obesity is resolved through lifestyle changes alone is not high among obese children and adolescents in practice, medication treatment is also being considered.

Medication treatment is most effective when carried out together with dietary correction, and using medication alone without improving lifestyle habits is difficult to maintain over the long term. Therefore, it is important to establish a customized treatment plan through accurate body composition testing, growth assessment, and analysis of each individual’s metabolic characteristics.

Wegovy for Childhood and Adolescent Obesity

According to a study announced at the time Wegovy was approved by the FDA, administering Wegovy to obese adolescents aged 12 to 17 for 68 weeks resulted in an average BMI reduction of 16%. This is a level that is difficult to achieve through diet control alone, and it was evaluated as a result that also considered metabolic stability and the effects on growth.

Recently, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety officially approved the obesity treatment Wegovy for use in adolescents aged 12 and older.

Now, the GLP-1 injectable drug Wegovy, which has a high weight-loss effect, can be used not only in adults but also in adolescents aged 12 and older with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/㎡ or higher in adults and a body weight exceeding 60 kg.

This decision was made based on the results of the STEP TEENS study published in the world-renowned medical journal NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine).

Results of the Wegovy STEP TEENS Study

The main ingredient of Wegovy is semaglutide. It is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps manage weight by regulating appetite and reducing calorie intake.

A multinational, randomized, double-blind clinical study was conducted for 68 weeks comparing semaglutide 2.4 mg and placebo in 201 adolescents aged 12 to under 18 who were obese or overweight and had at least one weight-related comorbidity.

👉 The BMI of the treatment group (n=134) decreased by an average of 16.1%, while the placebo group (n=67) increased by 0.6%, with a between-group difference of 16.7% p

👉 The proportion who lost more than 5% of body weight was 72.5%, and the proportion who lost more than 15% was 53.4%

👉 Major cardiometabolic risk factors such as waist circumference, blood pressure, HbA1c, and lipids improved

👉 Adverse reactions were similar to those observed in adults and were temporary and mild to moderate

👉 No effect on growth indicators or pubertal development

Wegovy has been recognized as safe as a treatment for childhood and adolescent obesity.

Points to Consider When Treating Childhood Obesity with Wegovy

Wegovy is known for its excellent weight-loss effect, but as a medication treatment, there is also the possibility of side effects.

The most common side effects are gastrointestinal symptoms, with nausea, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, and constipation being reported most frequently, and headaches, fatigue, and dizziness may also occur.

Side effects that have shown a higher incidence in children and adolescents include gallbladder disease, skin reactions such as rash and hives, and low blood pressure, which have been reported more often than in adults. Before starting Wegovy treatment, it is important to thoroughly review the current health status, medications being taken, and past medical history to reduce the possibility of side effects.

Therefore, because treatment must be customized by considering not only simple weight loss but also the growth process and health status, arbitrary use without a specialist’s diagnosis and observation must never be allowed.

Bliss Clinic Adolescent Obesity Program

Before adolescent Wegovy treatment, the medication is adjusted so that it does not affect height and physical growth.

If necessary, precise tests including blood sugar, lipids, liver function, thyroid function, and HbA1c are performed to establish a safer treatment plan.

Wegovy injection treatment

Based on extensive clinical experience, step-by-step dose adjustments are made in line with weight, eating habits, and growth rate. Rather than using a high dose from the beginning, treatment is carried out so that it can continue safely and without burden.

Treatment of childhood obesity with Wegovy can ensure both safety and effectiveness when professional management and continuous monitoring are carried out together. Medication should not simply be viewed as a means to reduce weight, but rather as one treatment tool to help adolescents in their growth period restore a healthy metabolic balance.

Therefore, adolescents struggling with obesity should undergo treatment under the detailed evaluation and monitoring of medical professionals, and the most desirable approach is to establish a treatment plan that can be accompanied by dietary improvement, exercise, and emotional stability management.