In 138 obese adolescents, liraglutide plus lifestyle intervention reduced BMI by 0.48 kg/m² and improved cholesterol, but the treatment effect was strongest in the first 6-9 months and waned thereafter.
BMI -0.48 kg/m²Liraglutide plus lifestyle modification significantly reduced BMI in obese adolescents, though the effect was most pronounced in the first 6-9 months.
What the researchers found
Liraglutide plus lifestyle intervention significantly reduced BMI (p=0.003), total cholesterol (p=0.023), and LDL (p=0.05) in obese adolescents, but the treatment interaction effect was significant only through the first follow-up period (p=0.027).
Why it matters
Adolescent obesity is rising globally and has lifelong metabolic consequences. Liraglutide is the first FDA-approved GLP-1 drug for adolescent obesity, and this real-world study from Saudi Arabia provides practical evidence for its effectiveness — and its limitations — in a non-Western population.
How the study worked
Retrospective cohort study of 138 obese adolescents (69 per group) at a specialized children's hospital in Riyadh (2019-2022), comparing lifestyle modification alone vs. lifestyle plus liraglutide over 9-12 months using paired t-tests and linear mixed models.
What this study cannot tell us
Retrospective design limits causal inference. Single-center study in Saudi Arabia may not generalize to other populations. BMI reduction of 0.48 kg/m² is modest. The treatment effect waned after 6-9 months, and the study did not explore why. No data on adverse effects, adherence, or quality of life. Liraglutide doses were not specified in the abstract.
How to read the evidence
This is a retrospective cohort study with matched groups, providing real-world evidence but with limitations inherent to non-randomized, single-center designs. The sample size is reasonable for a pediatric obesity study.
When this study was published
Published in 2025, covering patients treated between 2019-2022.
The bigger picture
This study adds to growing real-world evidence for GLP-1 drugs in adolescents. The finding that benefits plateau after 6-9 months echoes patterns seen in adult studies and raises questions about long-term treatment strategies — whether dose escalation, drug switching, or intensified lifestyle support is needed to maintain progress.
Questions still open
- Why does the liraglutide effect plateau after 6-9 months in adolescents, and could dose adjustment prevent this?
- Would newer GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide or tirzepatide show more sustained effects in this population?
- How does liraglutide efficacy in Saudi adolescents compare to Western populations?
Common questions
Is liraglutide safe for teenagers?
Why did the weight loss slow down after 6-9 months?
Read the original research
The metabolic effect of combined liraglutide treatment and lifestyle modification on obese adolescents in a tertiary center, Riyadh.
Frontiers in endocrinology, 16, 1573109
Citation
Babiker, Amir; Alfaraidi, Haifa; Aljarallah, Gadah; Albaraki, Joud; Alharbi, Reem; Alsomali, Nouf; Alkhalaf, Abeer; Yenugadhati, Nagarajkumar; Al Juraibah, Fahad; Al Alwan, Ibrahim. (2025). The metabolic effect of combined liraglutide treatment and lifestyle modification on obese adolescents in a tertiary center, Riyadh.. Frontiers in endocrinology, 16, 1573109. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2025.1573109