Another study from the Evernorth Research Institute, as reported by Reuters<\/a>, clocked a whopping 68% rise in use among adolescents overall.<\/p>\n But while slim-down shots like Wegovy may shrink waistlines, some experts say parents should pump the brakes \u2014 before turning their kids into pin cushions.<\/p>\n Dr. Robert Siegel, a pediatrician at Cincinnati Children\u2019s Hospital, didn\u2019t mince words, telling the news agency, \u201cThese medications are likely to be needed for a very long time to maintain weight.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that \u201cwe only have a relatively short-term experience with them.\u201d<\/p>\n In other words, we\u2019ve barely scratched the surface on what these meds might do to growing bodies \u2014 and kids could be stuck on them for life.<\/p>\n The spike in teen prescriptions comes after Wegovy was approved for adolescents in late 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since then, families desperate to beat back the obesity epidemic \u2014 which affects 1 in 4 American teens \u2014 have turned to GLP-1 meds in growing numbers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s promising that more young people are using these medications, but it\u2019s still a very small percentage of patients with severe obesity that are getting access to them,\u201d Dr. Cate Varney, director of obesity medicine at the University of Virginia Health system, told Reuters.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhen lifestyle changes alone are insufficient, we need these additional tools.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, the new tools come with plenty of fine print.<\/p>\n \u201cThe medications may need to be used indefinitely,\u201d Siegel said, noting most pediatricians don\u2019t have the training \u2014 or equipment \u2014 to track long-term effects like muscle loss or developmental delays.<\/p>\n Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, insists there\u2019s no reason to panic.\u00a0<\/p>\n The company said in a statement that semaglutide \u201cdid not appear to affect growth or pubertal development\u201d in teen clinical trials.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are confident in the proven safety and efficacy of our GLP-1 medicines,\u201d Novo added.<\/p>\n Eli Lilly, whose drug Zepbound is in trials for teen use, echoed that stance, as per Reuters.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere has been no evidence to date suggesting impairment in growth or metabolism,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n But that\u2019s not enough to calm critics. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slammed the trend as a sign of the \u201covermedicalization of our kids,\u201d citing a lack of long-term safety data and possible threats to metabolism and development.<\/a><\/p>\n With weight-loss shots looking more like a long-haul commitment than a quick fix, some doctors say teens should focus on old-school strategies before turning to syringes.<\/p>\n As The Post previously reported, a survey from digital healthcare platform Tebra found that 37% of young Americans in this age group are planning to ditch the gym and head to the pharmacy instead<\/a> \u2014 turning to Ozempic, Wegovy and other GLP-1 drugs to hit their weight-loss goals.<\/p>\n While Gen Z is the most eager to jump on the injection bandwagon, older folks are actually more confident in the drugs\u2019 effectiveness \u2014 with 72% of baby boomers saying they work better than traditional methods.<\/p>\n![\"woman](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/106377589.jpg\")
Experts warn we\u2019re rolling the dice \u2014 these shots could mess with growing bodies, and kids might be stuck jabbing themselves for life. nuzza11 \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n![\"close-up](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ozempic-medicine-adults-type-2-106377617.jpg\")
Slim-down shots might melt fat fast \u2014 but docs say teens should ditch the syringes and stick to sweat, not semaglutide, for lasting results. Corbis via Getty Images<\/p>\n