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Data shows that the number of young Americans who started using semaglutide**, which was developed by Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals in Denmark, is increasing rapidly last year.
In the first 10 months of 2023, 1,268 underage obese patients in the United States started taking semaglutide** (brand name Wegovy), aged between 12 and 17, according to a report on Thursday (Feb. 15) that exclusively disclosed U.S. insurance claims data compiled by health technology company Komodo Health.
Semaglutide was developed by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk in 2021 and marketed under the brand name WeGovy (hereinafter referred to as Wegovy), which is an antidiabetic drug mainly for type 2 diabetes and a ** drug for long-term weight management.
In 2022, only 25 children were prescribed the drug, and the United States did not approve the drug for adolescents until December of that year. The American Academy of Pediatrics later recommended that the drug be given to obese children starting at age 12.
Medicaid data from five states, including Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, also showed a similar rise in Wegovy usage. The overall number remains small, though, with at least 464 people being prescribed for the drug in these five states since January 2022.
These figures do not include prescriptions for drugs purchased without health insurance, as well as off-label use of two other similar drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
However, even if the number of WeGovy users increases, it is only a drop in the bucket. According to official US estimates, nearly 20% of children in the United States are obese, or about 14.7 million people.
More families are willing to accept wegovy
However, Reuters data shows that more and more families are willing to embrace Wegovy, which is the first highly effective option for obesity in addition to surgery. A single use of this injectable drug can be costly, and data on long-term risks and benefits are limited.
His name is Billy Small Jr) began taking wegovy at the age of 15. Before taking the drug, he weighed 176 kilograms. After almost a year of taking medication, he lost about 40 kilograms. His appetite dropped dramatically, and he rarely showed up *** and began to go out with relatives and friends, exercise.
Billy's father says his son's self-confidence was hit by his weight, and now his quality of life is 100 times better than before.
About 175 million children and adolescents worldwide suffer from obesity, and for some, a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise may not be enough, Novo Nordisk said.
The company also indicated that Wegovy received similar approvals for adolescent medication in Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates last year. Data to date shows that most people gain weight after stopping taking the drug. It is unclear if there is a way to avoid taking this drug for life.
U.S. experts recommend intensive counseling, including behavioral and nutrition education, rather than drugs, when helping children in need, because people don't really understand the role of these drugs in a child's development.