Real‐World Use of Subsidised Semaglutide in Icelandic Children With Obesity: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
Semaglutide was associated with reversal of a longstanding upward weight trajectory in children with obesity. ND-status did not significantly modify treatment response; analysis was underpowered.
Study context
- Population
- Icelandic children aged ≥12 with grade 2 obesity prescribed subsidised semaglutide under a universal reimbursement policy, March 20, 2021-June 6, 2025; 44% female, mean age 15.2 years
- Participants
- 113 children
- Exposure
- Pre-treatment vs on-treatment %IOTF30 trajectory with subsidised semaglutide
- Outcome
- Change in %IOTF30 (BMI as % of age- and sex-specific IOTF obesity threshold)
Methodological detailspopulation-based, nationwide, piecewise linear mixed-effects regression
- Population-based
- Nationwide
- Piecewise linear mixed-effects regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Pre-treatment %IOTF30 slope
0.29 pp/month
95% CI 0.26, 0.33
On-treatment trajectory reversal with semaglutide
−0.86 pp/month
95% CI −1.06 to −0.66
Estimated reduction at 6 months
5.17 pp
95% CI 3.98, 6.36
Estimated reduction at 12 months
10.33 pp
95% CI 7.96, 12.71
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Modification of treatment response by ND status (Pediatric Obesity Center participants, n=56)ND vs No ND · underpowered | interaction p = 0.83 |
Modification of treatment response by neurodevelopmental disorders (ND) status (Pediatric Obesity Center participants, n=56)
- ND status did not significantly modify treatment response
%IOTF30 reduction >10 pp
- Achieved %IOTF30 reductions exceeding 10 pp
- 63%
On-treatment slopes across treatment settings
- Numerically similar across settings but not interpretable as evidence of equivalent response
Original publication
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