Hundreds of Children in England Receive GLP-1 Medication Prescriptions
Hundreds of children in England are receiving prescriptions for GLP-1 medications, including patients younger than 12, according to figures obtained by the Guardian.
Key Clinical Takeaways:
- Data obtained via freedom of information requests show 419 prescriptions were issued to children under 18 in the 2025-26 financial year, with 10 for children under 12.
- Between April and July, an additional 341 prescriptions were issued, including 15 for children under 12.
- The numbers exclude private prescriptions, prison settings, and hospital dispensations, meaning the actual total is likely higher.
Prescription Numbers Across England
The figures from the NHS Business Services Authority reveal a steady flow of slimming aids such as Wegovy and Mounjaro into pediatric populations. Originally developed to help adults with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar levels, these medications are now used widely for weight management.
The 419 prescriptions recorded in the 2025-26 financial year compare with 341 prescriptions dispensed in just a four-month window from April to July. Among those later prescriptions, 15 went to children under the age of 12. Because the data only covers community dispensing, it leaves out medications supplied via private clinics, prisons, and hospitals.
Drivers of Pediatric Prescribing
The rise in prescriptions coincides with worsening childhood obesity trends across the country. Figures from the National Child Measurement Programme show that 10.7% of reception-year children aged four and five are obese, climbing to 22.8% for children in year six aged 10 and 11. Globally, the World Health Organization reported that 400 million children and adolescents aged between five and 19 were overweight in 2024, with 170 million living with obesity.
To address severe cases, the NHS piloted Complications from Excess Weight clinics starting in 2021 for children aged two to 16. NHS England revealed in May that nearly 6,500 children have been referred to these specialized services, including more than 400 younger than four.
Specialists Reserve Drugs for Young People with Severe Complications
Specialists emphasize that these drugs are reserved for young people facing severe health complications after standard lifestyle interventions fail. Speaking to the Guardian, Julian Hamilton-Shield—a clinician at the Bristol Complications CEW clinic and a professor in diabetes and metabolic endocrinology—noted that young patients prescribed semaglutide frequently present alongside conditions like type 2 diabetes, liver disease, intracranial hypertension, or obstructive sleep apnoea.
“Probably, in the vast majority of cases, they have a secondary comorbidity such as type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, liver disease, intracranial hypertension – you name it, they’ve got it.”
“So it's been used as an adjunct after standard therapies haven't really helped,” said Julian Hamilton-Shield, who works as a clinician at the Bristol Complications CEW clinic and holds a professorship in diabetes and metabolic endocrinology.
Martin Whyte, a professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Surrey, told the Guardian that while prescription totals remain small relative to the broader scale of childhood obesity, patients require structured long-term support.
“The important thing is that children who start them do so within specialist services, with support for diet, growth and wellbeing, and a plan for the long term.”
Experts Examine Ways to Widen Obesity Medication Access
Global guidance from the World Health Organization stated last month that obesity medications should not be given to children under 10. However, trial data involving 165 children aged six to under 12, run by Wegovy manufacturer Novo Nordisk, suggests the drugs can assist younger patients with obesity.
Dr Dunia Ismail, a consultant paediatrician running a CEW clinic, told the Guardian that experts are examining ways to widen access. “We have been sticking to 12, although now we are looking at expanding that to eight-plus once licence-approved,” Ismail told the Guardian.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.