# Hundreds of children in England receive GLP-1 prescriptions as use grows

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/hundreds-of-children-in-england-prescribed-weight-loss-jabs-figures-show/
- Published: 2026-11-14T08:00:39+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T08:18:09+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/nov/14/children-iengland-prescribed-weight-loss-jabs
- Topics: UK, World

## Key points

- Hundreds of children in England received GLP-1 prescriptions.
- Some prescriptions were for children under 12.
- Experts call for specialist care and long-term monitoring.

## Summary

An investigation found that hundreds of children in England have been prescribed GLP-1 medicines, including some under 12, as the drugs’ use for weight loss grows. Experts say children need specialist supervision and long-term support because weight can return after treatment stops and evidence on prolonged use during growth remains limited.

There were 419 prescriptions for under-18s in the 2025-26 financial year, including 10 for under-12s; from April to July this year, there were 341 prescriptions, including 15 for under-12s. The figures exclude private prescriptions and some hospital and prison dispensing, so may understate use, and do not show whether every prescription was for weight loss. Childhood obesity remains common: 10.7% of children aged four to five and 22.8% of those aged 10 to 11 are obese.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.