CDC

Obesity medication prescriptions remain low among U.S. adolescents

June 9, 2025

A CDC analysis of ambulatory electronic medical record data from 2018 to 2023 found that although the proportion of U.S. adolescents aged 12 to 17 years with obesity who were prescribed FDA-approved obesity medications increased significantly in 2023, overall prescribing rates remained low. In 2023, only 0.5% of adolescents with obesity received a prescription, despite a nearly 300% increase from 2020. This rise followed the FDA’s expanded approval of two medications for adolescents and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2023 clinical practice guideline recommending pharmacologic treatment as an adjunct to lifestyle interventions.

The study also identified disparities in prescribing patterns. Adolescents more likely to receive prescriptions were girls, White, aged 15 to 17 years, or had severe obesity. These findings underscore the need for continued monitoring and equitable access to evidence-based obesity treatments. Public health strategies should aim to reduce barriers to care and ensure that all adolescents with obesity can benefit from comprehensive treatment approaches, including medications and behavioral interventions.

Source:

Kompaniyets L, et al. (2025, June 5). CDC. Prescriptions for Obesity Medications Among Adolescents Aged 12–17 Years with Obesity — United States, 2018–2023. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7420a1.htm