GLP-1 drugs linked to nutritional deficiencies in 16.8% of children within a year

September 23, 2026 at 05:00 AM2 min

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A study in Childhood Obesity found that 16.8% of children aged 10–17 taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss or diabetes were diagnosed with a nutritional deficiency within one year of starting treatment. Vitamin D deficiency was the most common, affecting 12.4% of patients. Only 5% received nutritional counseling within 30 days of starting the medication.

Key Facts

The study analyzed administrative claims data from 2017–2022 covering more than 100 million patients and identified 2,031 GLP-1 users aged 10–17.
Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda) accounted for 78.6% of GLP-1 prescriptions among the children studied, followed by dulaglutide (Trulicity) at 10.4% and semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) at 9.1%.
Less than 25% of children received nutritional counseling within 6 months of starting GLP-1 treatment.
Senior author Justin Ryder, PhD, is Vice Chair of Research at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Associate Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Study Findings

Researchers from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine analyzed national administrative claims data from 2017 through 2022. The database covered more than 100 million patients, from which 2,031 GLP-1 users aged 10 to 17 met continuous enrollment requirements and had no prior nutritional deficiency diagnosis. Within the first year of GLP-1 therapy, 16.8% of these children were diagnosed with a nutritional deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency was the most frequently identified problem, affecting 12.4% of children within one year of beginning treatment.

Prescribing Patterns

Liraglutide, sold as Victoza and Saxenda, was the most commonly prescribed GLP-1 medication among the children, accounting for 78.6% of prescriptions. Dulaglutide (Trulicity) accounted for 10.4% of prescriptions, while semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) accounted for 9.1%. The study population included children taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes.

Nutritional Counseling Gap

Only 5% of patients received nutritional counseling within 30 days of starting GLP-1 treatment. Less than 25% received nutritional counseling within 6 months of initiating therapy. Senior author Justin Ryder emphasized that 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. Ryder stated that nutritional support needs to play a critical role once treatment with a GLP-1 medication is initiated.