A new study reveals a sharp rise in the use of the weight-loss drug Wegovy among American teenagers — a trend largely driven by growing trust among families and healthcare providers in the drug’s safety and effectiveness for treating obesity in adolescents.
According to an analysis by Truveta, a healthcare data company, Wegovy prescriptions among teens increased by 50% over the past year, reaching 14.8 prescriptions per 100,000 adolescents.
This marks a significant jump compared to the 9.9 prescriptions per 100,000 in 2023 — the first full year the drug was approved for teens aged 12 and older. The trend has continued into early 2025, with the rate rising to 17.3 prescriptions in the first quarter of this year.
Despite this growth, Wegovy usage still represents only a small fraction of the estimated 23 in 100,000 teenagers with obesity, and remains far lower than adult prescription rates.
