Effectiveness of liraglutide in the treatment of adolescent obesity.

INTRODUCTION: In the management of adolescent obesity, therapeutic options are limited and the outcomes of lifestyle modification (LM) alone are poor. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, was the first drug approved in Spain for the management of obesity in adolescents aged 12 years or older. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of liraglutide combined with LM in adolescents with obesity compared to LM alone. METHODS: Retrospective observational study of 62 adolescents (12-18 years) with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile. The intervention group (n=31) received liraglutide plus LM, while controls (n=31) matched for age, sex and treatment duration were managed with LM alone. We analyzed anthropometric, cardiovascular and body composition variables at three time points: baseline (T1), end of treatment (T2: mean, 6.9 months; SD, 4.7), and follow-up (T3: mean, 12.5 months; SD, 4.9 months). Comparisons between groups were performed using adjusted analysis of covariance model for changes in quantitative variables and logistic regression for BMI reductions of 5% or greater and 10% or greater. RESULTS: In the intervention group, the BMI z score decreased significantly (mean, -1.09 [SD, 0.24] vs -0.10 [SD, 0.25] in controls; P=.001). This corresponded to a BMI reduction of 5% or greater in 48.4% of patients and 10% or greater in 29%, compared to 3% and 1%, respectively, in the control group (P<.05). The weight loss was maintained at six months of follow-up (T3). There was a significant reduction in insulin levels, the HOMA-IR, triglyceride levels, systolic hypertension (HTN), and the number of prediabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Liraglutide combined with LM achieved a greater reduction in the BMI z score, waist/height ratio and cardiometabolic parameters compared to the LM alone. Further research is needed to assess its long-term effects and difficulties in its implementation.