Correlates of Obesity Medication Use in Paediatric Weight Management Programmes: A POWER Consortium Analysis
Authors' conclusion
ObM prescribing was strongly associated with age, obesity severity and comorbidities
Study context
- Population
- Youth aged 6–18 years seen at 12 POWER paediatric weight management sites, 2018–2024
- Participants
- 4,628 participants12 sites
- Exposure
- Youth prescribed obesity medication (ObMs) vs not prescribed ObMs
- ObMn = 927
- Outcome
- ObM prescription and its correlates
Methodological detailsmulticentre, 12 POWER sites, adjusted for site
- Multicentre
- 12 POWER sites
- Adjusted for site
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
ObM
20%
927
Adjusted odds ratio (CI)
12-15 yearsvs 6-11 years
1.7(1.4–2.0)
16-18 yearsvs 6-11 years
1.6(1.3–2.0)
Class 2 obesityvs Class 1 obesity
1.6(1.3–2.2)
Class 3 obesityvs Class 1 obesity
2.9(2.3–3.8)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Most prescribed ObMs
- Topiramate
- 37%
- Metformin
- 43%
Site-level prescribing patterns
- Higher prescribing programmes offered ObMs sooner and multiple ObMs more often
Original publication
Correlates of Obesity Medication Use in Paediatric Weight Management Programmes: A POWER Consortium Analysis. Pediatr Obes. Published 5 July 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →