appear useful for adolescent obesity, while dual and triple incretin agonists remain mostly extrapolated from adult evidence.
Evidence
This narrative review synthesized PubMed and Scopus clinical trials, systematic reviews, and real-world studies from 2010 to 2024, prioritizing pediatric and adolescent obesity evidence.
Caveat
Adolescent-specific data for dual and are limited or unavailable, and long-term safety, developmental outcomes, and real-world adherence remain uncertain.
Simplified
Adolescent obesity is an escalating global health concern associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and long-term metabolic complications. Although lifestyle interventions remain first-line therapy, their limited long-term effectiveness has led to increasing interest in pharmacological approaches. This narrative review evaluates the mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and safety of glucagon-like peptie-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, as well as emerging dual and triple incretin-based therapies, in the management of adolescent obesity. A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Scopus, focusing on clinical trials, systematic reviews, and real-world studies published between 2010 and 2024. Evidence from pediatric and adolescent populations was prioritized, while adult data were included where adolescent-specific evidence remains unavailable and are interpreted cautiously. Among single-agent therapies, have demonstrated clinically meaningful weight reduction and metabolic benefits in adolescents. In the STEP TEENS trial, once-weekly semaglutide resulted in approximately 16% mean body weight reduction over 68 weeks, while liraglutide produced more modest reductions. such as tirzepatide and emerging , including retatrutide, have shown superior weight-loss efficacy in adult populations; however, pediatric data for these agents remain limited or unavailable. Across all incretin-based therapies, gastrointestinal adverse effects are the most commonly reported side effects. In conclusion, GLP-1 receptor agonists represent an effective pharmacological option for adolescents with obesity, while dual and triple incretin agonists offer promising future therapeutic potential. Nevertheless, the clinical application of multi-receptor agonists in adolescents requires caution, as long-term safety, developmental outcomes, and real-world adherence data in pediatric populations are still lacking. Further well-designed pediatric trials are essential before broader adoption can be recommended.
Key numbers
16.1%
Mean BMI Reduction with Semaglutide
Mean reduction over 68 weeks in adolescents with obesity.
20.9%
Weight Loss with Tirzepatide
Mean body weight reduction over 72 weeks in adults.
24.2%
Weight Loss with Retatrutide
Mean weight reduction over 48 weeks in adult clinical trials.
Full Text
We can’t show the full text here under this license.
