Quantitative analysis of the efficacy characteristics and influencing factors of weight loss drugs in children and adolescents
Authors' conclusion
This study provides key quantitative evidence to inform the use of weight-loss medications in treating obesity in the paediatric demograph.
Study context
- Population
- Children and adolescents with obesity in randomised placebo-controlled trials of pharmacological treatment31 articles
- Participants
- 1,723 children
- Comparison
- Weight loss drugs vs placebo in children and adolescents
- Outcome
- Placebo-corrected mean weight reduction, baseline BMI standardised to a median of 35.3 kg/m²
- Follow-up
- 56 weeks
Methodological detailssystematic search, pharmacodynamic time-course and covariate models, subgroup analyses, comparison with adult efficacy models
- Systematic search
- Pharmacodynamic time-course and covariate models
- Subgroup analyses
- Comparison with adult efficacy models
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Placebo-corrected mean weight reduction
Semaglutide
12.55
mean · 95% CI 10.17–16.19 · kg
Phentermine-topiramate (PT)
10.16
mean · 95% CI 8.06–12.30 · kg
Sibutramine
5.86
mean · 95% CI 4.10–7.62 · kg
Probiotics
3.23
mean · 95% CI 1.11–5.36 · kg
Orlistat
2.66
mean · 95% CI 2.06–3.28 · kg
Metformin
2.29
mean · 95% CI 0.26–4.37 · kg
GLP-1 RA
1.93
mean · 95% CI 1.17–2.72 · kg
Further pooled results
Time to efficacy plateau
- Drugs took 32.9-47.8 weeks to reach efficacy plateau; GLP-1 RA acted most rapidly
Children/adolescents vs adults
- No significant differences in effectiveness vs adults for semaglutide, liraglutide, orlistat and high-dose PT (15/92 mg)
- Low-dose PT (7.5/56 mg) more effective in the paediatric population
Subgroups and covariates
- Baseline Body Mass Index (BMI) significantly affected weight loss
- GLP-1 RA and orlistat particularly effective in non-metabolic obesity
- Drugs more efficacious in males
Original publication
Quantitative analysis of the efficacy characteristics and influencing factors of weight loss drugs in children and adolescents. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 11 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →