Study Links GLP-1 Medications to Nutritional Deficiencies in Nearly 1 in 6 Children
By morganverity // 2026-09-29
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Nearly one in six children taking GLP-1 receptor agonist medications was diagnosed with a nutritional deficiency within a year of starting treatment, according to a study published Sept. 23, 2026, in the journal Childhood Obesity. The study, conducted by researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, found that 16.8% of patients ages 10 to 17 developed a diagnosed nutritional deficiency within 12 months of initiating GLP-1 therapy, the hospital stated. Vitamin D deficiency was the most frequently identified problem, affecting 12.4% of pediatric patients within one year, according to the study. "As appropriate pediatric use of GLP-1s becomes more widespread, we need to understand the risks during periods of rapid growth and pubertal development," said senior author Justin Ryder, PhD, Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Surgery at Lurie Children's Hospital and Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Ryder said nutrients such as vitamin D, iron and calcium are of particular concern during adolescence, when deficiencies may have lasting implications for skeletal health and overall development.

Study Analyzed National Claims Data From 2017 to 2022

Researchers analyzed national administrative claims data collected from 2017 through 2022, according to the study. The database covered more than 100 million patients, and researchers identified 2,031 GLP-1 users ages 10 to 17 who met continuous enrollment requirements and had no prior nutritional deficiency diagnosis, the hospital stated. Liraglutide, sold under the brand names Victoza and Saxenda, accounted for 78.6% of prescriptions in the study population. Dulaglutide, sold as Trulicity, accounted for 10.4%, while semaglutide, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, accounted for 9.1%, researchers reported. The research was supported by materials provided by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

Deficiencies Raise Concerns During Adolescent Growth

Adolescence is a period requiring substantial nutritional support for bone growth, physical development and other major biological changes, researchers said. Because GLP-1 medications can affect appetite and food intake, researchers said attention to nutrition may be especially important for younger patients receiving these drugs. Ryder said deficiencies during adolescence may have lasting implications for skeletal health and overall development. The study found that 16.8% of young patients developed a diagnosed nutritional deficiency within a year of starting treatment. The findings add to a growing body of research examining the effects of GLP-1 medications in pediatric populations. A separate study published Sept. 4 found that prescriptions for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs among children under 12 in the United States have risen more than 300-fold since 2019, according to a report by NTD [1]. Another study found that American doctors are increasingly prescribing weight-loss drugs to children with obesity as young as 8, according to the Epoch Times [2]. Critics of the pharmaceutical industry have raised concerns about the long-term health effects of these medications on children. Author Peter Gøtzsche has written about what he describes as the dilemma of uncertainty surrounding GLP-1-based therapies [3].

Few Patients Received Nutritional Counseling, Study Finds

Only 5% of patients received nutritional counseling within 30 days of starting GLP-1 treatment, according to the study. Less than 25% received nutritional counseling within 6 months, the study found. "Nutritional support needs to play a critical role once treatment with a GLP-1 medication is initiated," Ryder said. "In our study, however, we found that only 5% of patients received nutritional counseling within 30 days of GLP-1 treatment and less than 25% received nutritional counseling within 6 months." Ryder said the findings suggest nutritional care may need to begin alongside GLP-1 treatment rather than after a deficiency is detected. The study authors wrote that nutritional support needs to play a critical role once GLP-1 treatment begins. The lack of nutritional counseling identified in the study comes as GLP-1 medications are being prescribed to increasingly younger patients. Drug makers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have announced they are testing the products for children as young as age six, according to Children's Health Defense [4]. The makers of Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro currently have approval in the U.S. and European Union for people ages 12 and up, the report stated [4].

Conclusion

The study published in Childhood Obesity provides data indicating that 16.8% of pediatric GLP-1 users developed a nutritional deficiency within one year of treatment, with vitamin D deficiency affecting 12.4%. The research analyzed claims data from more than 100 million patients, identifying 2,031 GLP-1 users ages 10 to 17. Researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago called for proactive nutritional management when GLP-1s are prescribed to children. The study found that only 5% of patients received nutritional counseling within 30 days of starting treatment and less than 25% received counseling within 6 months.

References

  1. NTD. "More Children Under 12 in US Are Being Prescribed Weight-Loss Drugs, Study Finds". NTD. September 8, 2026.
  2. The Epoch Times. "Weight-Loss Drug Use Soars Among Kids: Study". The Epoch Times. September 7, 2026.
  3. Peter Gøtzsche. "Tödliche Medizin und organisierte Kriminalität: Wie die Pharmaindustrie".
  4. ChildrensHealthDefense.org. "Drug Makers Now Targeting 6-Year-Olds With Popular Weight-Loss Shots". ChildrensHealthDefense.org. October 25, 2023.
  5. NTD. "GLP-1 Drugmakers Face Lawsuits Over Alleged Risk of Vision Loss". NTD. September 22, 2026.
  6. ChildrensHealthDefense.org. "Popular Weight-Loss Drugs Ozempic and Saxenda Under Investigation for Suicidal Thoughts". ChildrensHealthDefense.org. July 11, 2023.
  7. NaturalNews.com. "Student's death due to weight loss drug raises questions about off-label prescriptions". NaturalNews.com. August 17, 2026.
  8. Susan S. Cho, Iris L. Case, Stephanie Nishi. "Definition of Satiation and Satiety: Clinical Methods for Measuring Satiety and Physiological Mechanisms of Appetite Regulation and Control of Food Intakes". Weight Control and Slimming Ingredients in Food Technology.

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