GLP-1 Medications and Our Youth
GLP-1 Medications and Our Youth: Proceeding with Caution
Why I’m Writing This
In recent months, I’ve been approached again and again by parents sharing that they—or their daughters—are using Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP-1 medications. At the same time, our community publications are filled with glossy ads and glowing articles that present these drugs as routine, simple weight-loss fixes.
Even more concerning, girls and mothers have told me they are turning to GLP-1s for shidduchim, to quickly lose weight before dating or a simcha, to appear more desirable to a partner, or simply to meet community and family expectations about body size.
This surge in use and interest—paired with the normalization of these medications in our media and everyday conversations—makes it critical to pause. We need to ask: What do these drugs actually do? What do we still not know? And why are they far from the quick, risk-free solution they are often made out to be?
Informed Choice for Adults vs. Risks for Children
When adults, together with their physicians, make an informed decision about using GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or liraglutide (Saxenda), that is a private health choice. However, in 2023 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) included GLP-1 medications in its new guidelines for pediatric obesity treatment, approving their use for children as young as 12. Since then, rates of pediatric prescribing—and even misuse—have risen sharply.
GLP-1 medications work by delaying gastric emptying, which prolongs the feeling of fullness, decreases appetite, and leads to weight loss. While this may sound straightforward, the reality for growing children and teens is far more complicated and risky.
Lack of Long-Term Research
The most pressing issue is that long-term safety data in children and adolescents do not exist. These medications were developed to support individuals with type 2 diabetes, where insulin regulation is impaired. Prescribing them to otherwise healthy children with functioning pancreases leaves us with unanswered questions: What impact might GLP-1 use have on long-term growth, development, and reproductive health?
A 2023 UC Irvine report warned that GLP-1 medications may be dangerous for children due to the risk of inadequate calorie intake during growth years, potentially impairing bone health, puberty, and brain development.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded that evidence is “inadequate” to recommend weight-loss drugs, including GLP-1s, for adolescents, citing too few trials and too little data on long-term potential harmful outcomes.
Risks of Malnutrition and Eating Disorders
Because GLP-1s reduce food intake significantly, adolescents risk malnourishment and insufficient intake of essential nutrients during critical developmental years. Reports already show increases in eating disorder behaviors in teens on GLP-1s, as prolonged calorie restriction can trigger or worsen these illnesses.
This is especially concerning in a population already vulnerable to body image pressures. For young people using food as an emotional coping mechanism, removing that outlet without providing alternative supports can lead to worsening mental health challenges.
Weight Cycling and Long-Term Dependency
Another problem is that GLP-1s are not designed for intermittent use. Research shows that when people stop taking them, weight regain is common—sometimes surpassing the original weight. For adolescent girls, this raises major concerns: a teen may use the drug before marriage, but when she discontinues it for pregnancy, she may face rapid weight regain with uncertain long-term consequences【nature.com†source】.
Reproductive Health and Puberty Concerns
Emerging anecdotal reports suggest GLP-1 medications may affect menstrual cycles, worsening cramps or altering patterns. While data are insufficient, these signals raise alarms about potential influence on reproductive development in prepubescent and pubescent adolescents.
Broader Social and Community Concerns
We are also witnessing a troubling cultural normalization and commercialization of GLP-1s:
Advertisements for GLP-1 medications appear in community media, unlike other controlled or potentially addictive substances.
Social pressures push young women—sometimes through family encouragement—to seek GLP-1s to fit societal ideals of thinness before dating or marriage.
Unsanctioned use is rising, with teens and seminary girls ordering unverified versions online, risking contaminated or unsafe products.
This normalization reinforces harmful stereotypes that thinness equals discipline, intelligence, and worth, while larger bodies imply laziness or failure.
Known Side Effects
Even in adults, GLP-1s carry side effects, which can be magnified in youth:
Common: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, reflux, fatigue.
Moderate: dehydration, headaches, gallbladder issues.
Serious but rare: pancreatitis, kidney injury, severe allergic reactions, possible thyroid tumors, severe hypoglycemia, mood changes, and vision problems.
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding: Not recommended.
Conclusion: Proceed with Open Eyes
GLP-1 medications may be lifesaving for adults with diabetes or high-risk obesity, but their widespread and premature use in children and adolescents is deeply concerning. Without long-term safety data, we risk harming developing bodies and minds in ways we cannot yet measure.
Parents, educators, and community leaders must approach these medications with caution, ensure open conversations, and advocate for prevention-based approaches to body image, nutrition, and mental health.
