Hundreds of English children prescribed weight-loss GLP-1 jabs

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 16:49 · Archive

Hundreds of children in England, including some under 12, have been prescribed GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, drugs originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes that have become popular weight-loss aids.

The Guardian obtained figures from the NHS Business Services Authority showing 419 prescriptions issued to children under 18 in financial year 2025-26, with 10 going to children under 12. In the four months from April to July this year, 341 prescriptions were issued to children, 15 of whom were under 12. These figures cover prescriptions dispensed in community settings across the UK but exclude private prescriptions, hospital and prison settings, suggesting the true number is considerably higher.

Martin Whyte, a professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Surrey, acknowledged that the number of prescriptions remains small compared to the scale of childhood obesity. However, he stressed that children prescribed these medications should receive care through specialist services with support for diet, growth and wellbeing, along with regular monitoring of growth, puberty, nutritional intake, mental health and side effects.

How it is being reported

• Hundreds of children ‘prescribed weight-loss jabs’, data showsIt comes as childhood obesity in England is on the riseThe Independent · 14 Nov, 16:31
• Hundreds of children in England prescribed weight-loss jabs, figures showExclusive: investigation finds prescriptions for children under 12, as experts stress need for specialist supervision and long-term monitoring Hundreds of children in England are receiving prescriptions for GLP-1 medications, including some younger than 12, the Guardian can reveal. GLP-1 medications were initially developed to help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels, but have since become a popular slimming aid, with products such as Wegovy and Mounjaro becoming household names. Continue reading...The Guardian · 14 Nov, 08:00

In this story: The Guardian · England · University of Surrey · Martin Whyte · NHS Business Services Authority

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