Are weight loss injections safe for children and teenagers?

Weight loss injections are now widely discussed in the media, so it is understandable that parents ask whether they are safe for children and teenagers. The safest answer is that they may be appropriate for some children and young people, but only after specialist assessment and with careful monitoring.

Semaglutide, known by the brand name Wegovy, is licensed for weight management in adolescents aged 12 years and above who are severely obese or obese with some health problems related to excess weight. It is only used alongside a healthy, balanced diet and increased physical activity. Its safety and effectiveness have not been established yet for children under 12 years of age. It is given as once-weekly injections.

Before any medicine is considered, a specialist paediatrician or paediatric endocrinologist review should look for underlying contributors to weight gain and any complications. This may include growth pattern, puberty stage, blood pressure, sleep, emotional wellbeing, family history, medicines, eating patterns, activity, and blood tests where appropriate.

Weight loss injections are not a shortcut and they are not suitable for every young person. Common side effects can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal discomfort. Because vomiting or diarrhoea can cause dehydration, families need clear advice about fluids, warning symptoms and when to seek medical help. More serious problems are uncommon but important. Medicines in this group need caution in young people with certain medical histories, and families should be told to seek urgent advice for symptoms such as persistent severe abdominal pain. The dose of Wegovy should be titrated based on the side effects and weight loss achieved. Not all children and young people will need the full dose of Wegovy (semaglutide).

If treatment is used, it should be part of a wider plan that includes nutrition, physical activity, sleep, emotional wellbeing and family routines. The aim is not simply weight loss; it is safer long-term health, confidence and sustainable habits.

Parents should avoid buying weight loss injections online or sharing an adult prescription with a child. Dose, suitability and monitoring are different in young people, and treatment should be supervised by clinicians experienced in paediatric weight management or paediatric endocrinology.