Nearly one in six adolescents had a nutritional deficiency within a year of starting GLP-1 therapy. Digest
Reducing food intake can help manage obesity and other metabolic disorders in adolescents, yet a growing body still needs adequate nourishment. Researchers investigated how often adolescents received a diagnosis of a nutrient deficiency or related complication after starting GLP-1 medication.
The study followed insurance records for 2,031 US adolescents for one year after their first GLP-1 prescription, using data from 2017 to 2022. Participants were 10 to 17 years old, and about two-thirds had type 2 diabetes. Researchers excluded anyone with a nutritional deficiency or related complication diagnosed in the prior six months. They then tracked new diagnoses and visits for nutrition therapy or counseling. However, the insurance records provided no information on actual dietary intake or laboratory results, and the study had no untreated comparison group.
- A nutrient deficiency or related complication was diagnosed in 10.2% of adolescents within six months and 16.8% within a year.
- Vitamin D deficiency was the most common diagnosis, recorded in 12.4% within a year. Other diagnoses included dehydration (2.6%), nutritional anemia (1.5%), and several less common deficiencies.
- Only 5.8% had a documented nutrition visit within 30 days, 23.3% within six months, and 38.3% within a year. Counseling not billed to insurance may have been missed.
GLP-1 drugs help manage weight by reducing appetite, but eating less can also make it harder to get enough essential nutrients. This is particularly important for adolescents, who need adequate protein, vitamins, and minerals to support healthy growth and development. However, because the study relied on recorded diagnoses rather than laboratory measurements, some deficiencies may have been present before treatment but only diagnosed afterward.
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Weight loss and better blood sugar control are only part of managing obesity and its associated health risks. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits, including a balanced diet and regular physical activity, remains an essential part of treatment.