GLP-1 for Teens · Los Angeles
Physician-led GLP-1 care for teens and young adults, seen in person at our Encino office in the San Fernando Valley, or by telehealth anywhere in California. Here’s how these medications work, what the research shows in adolescents, and how WellTeenMD uses them safely.
GLP-1 medications act on systems involved in appetite, fullness, and blood-sugar regulation. They can help some patients feel satisfied sooner and stay full longer, which may make it easier to reduce food intake and reach a healthier weight.
GLP-1 medications have changed the way physicians can treat obesity and may be an effective option for appropriately selected teens and young adults. At WellTeenMD, medication is never the entire treatment plan. When appropriate, GLP-1 therapy is combined with physician care, nutritional support, and ongoing monitoring.
Yes. Certain GLP-1 medications are FDA-approved for weight management in adolescents beginning at age 12 who meet appropriate medical criteria. Not every GLP-1 medication is approved for every age group, and medication selection is individualized by your physician.
What the research shows
Clinical trials specifically involving adolescents have shown meaningful weight reduction.
In a major 68-week study, adolescents receiving once-weekly semaglutide plus lifestyle treatment experienced an average 16.1% reduction in BMI.
Nearly three out of four adolescents receiving semaglutide achieved at least 5% weight loss, compared with 18% on placebo plus lifestyle treatment.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends considering weight-management medication for appropriate adolescents with obesity as part of comprehensive care.
Individual results vary, and no particular amount of weight loss can be guaranteed.
Certain GLP-1 medications have been studied specifically in adolescents and have established safety information for the age groups in which they are approved.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal discomfort. Less common but potentially serious complications can also occur. Before prescribing medication, your physician reviews medical and family history, other medications, potential contraindications, and individual risk factors.
Your physician remains involved throughout treatment. Depending on the situation, we may adjust the dose, slow the rate of dose increases, address nutrition and hydration, temporarily hold medication, or reconsider treatment.
GLP-1 medications reduce appetite, which can significantly change how much a young person eats. During adolescence, adequate nutrition remains essential to support healthy growth and development. That’s one reason medical and nutritional monitoring is particularly important for younger patients.
Our physicians monitor growth and overall health, while our registered dietitian helps patients maintain appropriate nutrition, particularly sufficient protein, throughout treatment.
We have clinical trials showing that certain GLP-1 medications can be effective in adolescents, with established safety information over the periods studied. What we don’t yet have are decades of data following people who began these medications during adolescence.
That’s an important limitation. At the same time, untreated obesity can also carry significant long-term health risks. Our role is to help families weigh the potential benefits, known risks, and remaining uncertainties for their individual child.
Never just a prescription
If medication is prescribed, your physician remains involved, monitoring response, adjusting dosing when appropriate, helping manage side effects, and following your child’s overall health throughout treatment.
Questions about GLP-1 treatment?
The best way to know whether a GLP-1 medication is right for your teen or young adult is a medical evaluation with one of our physicians.
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