GLP-1 Drug Liraglutide Failed to Stop Weight Gain in a 3-Year-Old With Brain Tumor Obesity
Liraglutide at maximum dose (3 mg daily) failed to control weight gain in a toddler with tumor-related hypothalamic obesity caused by a brainstem ganglioglioma.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Liraglutide up to 3 mg daily failed to improve weight gain in a 3-year-old with tumor-related hypothalamic obesity from a brainstem ganglioglioma, despite good tolerability.
Key Numbers
Patient: 19-month-old female, ganglioglioma in medulla oblongata (5.5 x 2.6 x 2.3 cm). Liraglutide 0.3 mg titrated to 3 mg daily over 3 months. No GI side effects. Weight continued to increase.
How They Did This
Single pediatric case report documenting clinical course of GLP-1 RA therapy for tumor-related hypothalamic obesity.
Why This Research Matters
Not all obesity responds to GLP-1 drugs. Understanding which types of obesity are resistant helps set appropriate expectations and guides research toward alternative treatments for these patients.
The Bigger Picture
This case highlights that GLP-1 drugs work primarily through appetite and metabolic pathways that may be bypassed when brain structural damage directly disrupts weight regulation centers.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single case report — cannot determine if other GLP-1 drugs or doses might work. The underlying brain tumor may have progressed during treatment.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would newer GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide or dual agonists like tirzepatide be effective where liraglutide failed?
- ?What alternative pharmacological approaches exist for tumor-related hypothalamic obesity in children?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 3 mg liraglutide — no effect Maximum dose GLP-1 therapy failed to control weight gain driven by structural brain damage in a toddler
- Evidence Grade:
- Single case report — limited evidence but important for highlighting GLP-1 drug limitations in specific obesity types.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025.
- Original Title:
- Failure of GLP-1 Agonist Therapy to Improve Weight in a 3-Year-Old Patient With Tumor-Related Obesity.
- Published In:
- Case reports in pediatrics, 2025, 1707315 (2025)
- Authors:
- Petlansky, Rebecca, Graber, Evan
- Database ID:
- RPEP-13036
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the weight loss drug not work for this child?
The child's obesity was caused by a brain tumor damaging the hypothalamus — the brain's appetite control center. GLP-1 drugs work through appetite and metabolic pathways that may be bypassed when the brain structure itself is damaged.
What is hypothalamic obesity?
Hypothalamic obesity occurs when damage to the hypothalamus (from tumors, surgery, or radiation) disrupts the brain's ability to regulate appetite and energy balance. It is extremely difficult to treat and often does not respond to standard weight loss approaches.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-13036APA
Petlansky, Rebecca; Graber, Evan. (2025). Failure of GLP-1 Agonist Therapy to Improve Weight in a 3-Year-Old Patient With Tumor-Related Obesity.. Case reports in pediatrics, 2025, 1707315. https://doi.org/10.1155/crpe/1707315
MLA
Petlansky, Rebecca, et al. "Failure of GLP-1 Agonist Therapy to Improve Weight in a 3-Year-Old Patient With Tumor-Related Obesity.." Case reports in pediatrics, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1155/crpe/1707315
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Failure of GLP-1 Agonist Therapy to Improve Weight in a 3-Ye..." RPEP-13036. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/petlansky-2025-failure-of-glp1-agonist
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.