Wegovy is FDA approved for children as young as 12 years old.

The popular weightloss The drug Wegovy is now available for children from the age of 12.

Danish manufacturer Novo Nordisk announced that the Food and Drug Administration had extended the drug’s approval to include children. It had already received regulatory approval for use in adults last year.

In clinical trials, teenagers aged 12 to 17 who took the weekly injection lost 14% of their body weight in 64 weeks. This almost matches adult trials, where recipients lost 15% of their weight after 68 weeks.

Wegovy and its sister drug Ozempic exploded in popularity in 2022 due to their unprecedented weight loss success. Tech Tycoon Elon Musk credited him for his body transformation, and there are rumors that Hollywood stars like him Kim Kardashian also used it.

However, there are concerns about the long-term effectiveness of Wegovy, with a recent study finding that Users will regain lost weight if they stop using the drug.

The above shows the changes in body mass index (BMI) in the participants as a percentage. The dotted line, week 68, represents the end of the study. Subsequently, participants in both groups began to regain the weight they had lost

Above shows participants divided by the proportion of their body weight they lost. Overall, those who received the drug were more likely to lose weight

The prevalence of adolescent obesity in the United States continues to rise, affecting adolescents and their families. Now, more than ever, we need new options to support adolescents,” Dr. Aaron Kelly, a pediatric obesity expert at the University of Minnesota, said in a statement.

“This FDA approval provides an additional tool to treat this serious, chronic, and progressive disease.”

The trial, conducted by the University of Minnesota, tested the weekly injection of 201 obese youngsters.

Two-thirds of them used Wegovy, while the rest received weight loss advice but no medication.

The teenagers started with an average weight of 235 pounds. In the group that used Wegovy, an average of 33 pounds was lost during the 16 month trial.

A third of teenagers who used the drug managed to lose at least a fifth of their total body weight.

The jab was found to be safe to use, but the most likely side effects were nausea and vomiting.

Participants were also followed for three months after the study ended.

Both groups regained weight at this time, but it was more pronounced in the drug group.

Dosages for teenagers are the same size as for adults. Teenagers will start with a weekly injection of 0.25mg which can be taken in the thigh or arm.

Each month, the dose increases, before reaching a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg in the fourth month.

Most people access Wegovy through a prescription and insurance will cover it in the majority of cases.

Some people who are not obese but try to use either drug will pay over $1,000 out of pocket.

However, getting your hands on it can be a challenge. Wegovy is currently in short supply and Americans have not been able to start a new treatment for over a month now.

In the United States, about one in five children aged 12 to 15 are already classified as obese, a number that has increased after the Covid pandemic led many people to spend long periods indoors.

Its sister drug, Ozempic, has become an alternative. Both are made by Novo and use the active ingredient semaglutide.

So many people have turned to Ozempic, which has been approved to manage type 2 diabetes but can be used effectively off-label for weight loss, that it is also facing shortages.

Semaglutide was originally developed to treat diabetes. It works by helping the pancreas release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high.

But scientists have found that it also has the side effect of reducing appetite, leading to weight loss. When people eat food, cells in the gut begin to release a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

This travels to the hypothalamus – an almond-shaped structure in the center of the brain – activating this region to trigger feelings of fullness or satisfaction.

The mechanism tells the body to stop eating, but naturally only lasts a few minutes. Semaglutide, on the other hand, keeps it active for days.

Celebrities are spending $1,500 a month on the diabetes drug Ozempic because of its incredible weight loss effects.

Celebrities and wealthy social elites are spending $1,500 a month on a diabetes drug with miraculous weight loss effects — so much so that those who actually need it are struggling to find it.

Variety reports that semaglutide, sold under the brand name Ozempic, has become a staple in some groups. An insider said everyone from actors and moguls to reality stars and producers use the injection drug. So much so that it’s now part of a star’s prep process alongside their hair and makeup routine.

However, the drug, made by Danish company Novo Nordisk, is rare for people who use it as a pre-diabetic drug. Variety reports that pharmacies are on hold for orders through December. Not being able to access their medication can have disastrous effects for someone who needs it to manage their blood sugar, as they could develop diabetes and suffer other symptoms.

Diabetes medications have gained popularity in recent years as weight loss supplements. Unlike typical drugs that can be found on a store shelf, they are approved by regulators and generally have few negative side effects. They are also more effective and have undergone significant clinical trials – a claim that many over-the-counter weight loss medications cannot make.

The injectable diabetes drug Ozempic has become popular as a weight loss supplement among celebrities and wealthy elites – so much so that it’s rare for true pre-diabetics who need it to manage their condition.

The injectable diabetes drug Ozempic has become popular as a weight loss supplement among celebrities and wealthy elites – so much so that it’s rare for true prediabetics who need it to manage their condition.