Liraglutide reduced BMI in obese adolescents in a real-world Swiss clinic comparably to clinical trials, but 59% stopped treatment due to mild side effects or insufficient results.
59% discontinuedMore than half of adolescents stopped liraglutide within 18 months, mostly due to insufficient weight loss or mild nausea — highlighting adherence as the key challenge
What the researchers found
In a real-world Swiss clinic, 22 adolescents with obesity treated with liraglutide (Saxenda) showed significant BMI reduction comparable to clinical trial results. BMI-SDS dropped from +2.63 to +2.40 (median reduction -0.20, p=0.0003) with a large effect size (rb = -0.77).
However, 13 of 22 patients (59%) discontinued treatment — mainly due to insufficient weight loss or mild nausea. Among the 9 who continued, results were more impressive: BMI-SDS dropped from +2.59 to +2.08. No serious adverse events occurred. The mean treatment duration was only 8.2 months, and 15 of 22 patients had Southern European immigrant backgrounds.
Why it matters
Clinical trials paint an optimistic picture of GLP-1 drugs, but real-world results often differ because patients don't receive the intensive lifestyle support provided in trials. This is one of the first studies showing how liraglutide actually performs in a typical adolescent clinic setting. The good news: it works about as well as in trials. The bad news: nearly 60% of teens stopped taking it within 18 months. This highlights that the biggest challenge with GLP-1 drugs in adolescents isn't efficacy — it's keeping them on the medication long enough to benefit.
The numbers in context
n=22 · mean age 14.9 years · BMI-SDS +2.63→+2.40 · median reduction -0.20 · p=0.0003 · rb=-0.77 · 59% discontinued · mean duration 8.2 months · continuers: +2.59→+2.08 · no serious adverse events
How the study worked
Retrospective longitudinal non-interventional study at a single Swiss pediatric endocrinology center. 22 adolescents (ages 12.5–17.5) treated with liraglutide received non-structured nutritional/lifestyle counseling with three-monthly follow-up. BMI-SDS and adverse effects were tracked over the treatment period (mean 8.2 months, range 1–18 months).
Who was studied
22 adolescents (ages 12.5–17.5) with obesity treated at a Swiss pediatric endocrinology center; 15 with Southern European immigrant background
What this study cannot tell us
Very small sample (n=22) at a single center. No control group. Retrospective design. Non-structured lifestyle counseling may not reflect other clinical settings. High discontinuation rate (59%) limits conclusions about sustained efficacy. Short mean treatment duration (8.2 months). The predominantly Southern European immigrant population limits generalizability.
How to read the evidence
Low-to-moderate evidence from a small retrospective single-center study with no control group. The statistical significance and large effect size strengthen the efficacy finding, but the small sample, high dropout rate, and lack of controls limit the conclusions. Valuable as one of the first real-world adolescent liraglutide studies.
When this study was published
Published in 2025. This is very current and relevant as GLP-1 drugs are increasingly prescribed to adolescents. Real-world data from this population remains extremely scarce.
The bigger picture
As GLP-1 drugs move from adults to adolescents, real-world data like this is critical for setting expectations. Clinical trials for liraglutide in adolescents showed efficacy, leading to FDA approval. But trials include intensive lifestyle intervention, frequent monitoring, and highly motivated participants. This study shows that in routine practice — with less structured support — efficacy is maintained but adherence drops dramatically. With semaglutide and tirzepatide now being studied in teens, understanding why adolescents quit GLP-1 therapy is as important as proving the drugs work.
Questions still open
- Would more structured counseling or pre-treatment education about side effects reduce the 59% discontinuation rate in adolescents?
- How do newer GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide (weekly dosing) compare to daily liraglutide for adolescent adherence?
- What happens to weight after adolescents discontinue liraglutide — do they regain what they lost?
Common questions
Is liraglutide approved for teenagers?
Why did so many teenagers stop taking the drug?
Read the original research
Real-World Use of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Liraglutide in Adolescents with Obesity: A First Longitudinal Single-Center Analysis from Switzerland.
Children (Basel, Switzerland), 12(12)
Citation
Noordam, Cees; Eiholzer, Urs; Katschnig, Claudia; Stasinaki, Aikaterini; Dubinski, Ilja. (2025). Real-World Use of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Liraglutide in Adolescents with Obesity: A First Longitudinal Single-Center Analysis from Switzerland.. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 12(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/children12121716