GLP-1 Medications for Children: Why Nutrition Support Matters

Many people are sometimes surprised to learn that some GLP-1 medications are approved for use in children. While there may be debate about their use, these medications can significantly reduce appetite and food intake and have become a more common treatment option for certain children and adolescents with obesity.

If your child or teenager has recently started a GLP-1 medication, you probably have questions about what they should be eating. 

Is my child getting enough protein? What about vitamins and minerals? Should I be giving them a supplement? And if their appetite is significantly lower than it used to be, how do I know they're still getting the nutrition they need to grow?

These are important questions, because GLP-1 medications can change how much and how often a child eats. A new study is also raising questions about nutritional deficiencies among children taking these medications and found that nutrition counseling is not yet a routine part of treatment for many pediatric patients.

If your child is taking a GLP-1 medication, nutrition still matters, and making sure they're getting enough of the nutrients they need should be part of the treatment plan.

In this post, I'll take a closer look at what GLP-1 medications can mean for a child's nutrition, what this new study found, and how working with a dietitian can help ensure your child gets the nutrition they need as their appetite changes.

What Are GLP-1 Medications for Children?

GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic the effects of a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1. These medications can help regulate blood sugar, slow stomach emptying, and increase feelings of fullness after eating. 

Liraglutide (Saxenda) and semaglutide (Wegovy) are FDA-approved for chronic weight management in certain adolescents aged 12 years and older. These medications are intended to be used alongside nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral interventions, not as a replacement.

While these medications reduce appetite, the goal is to support overall health while ensuring they still get the energy, protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients their growing bodies need.

Why Nutrition Matters for Children Taking GLP-1 Medications

One intended effect of a GLP-1 medication is decreased appetite. For some kids, that may mean feeling satisfied after a much smaller meal or simply thinking about food less often. Others may experience nausea, vomiting, constipation, or other gastrointestinal side effects that make eating more difficult.

When overall food intake goes down, it can become harder to meet nutritional needs.

This is especially important during childhood and adolescence. The body is building bone, developing muscle, changing hormonally, and continuing to mature, while the brain continues to develop significantly.

A child may feel full after a small amount of food without getting everything their body needs. Working with a registered dietitian can help families adjust meals and snacks so that the food a child does eat provides as much nutritional value as possible.

New Study Finds Nutritional Deficiencies in Children Taking GLP-1 Medications

A new study published in Childhood Obesity looked at nutritional deficiencies and nutrition counseling among pediatric patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Researchers analyzed insurance claims data from more than 100 million patients and identified 2,031 children and adolescents ages 10 to 17 who started a GLP-1 medication and had no previously documented nutritional deficiency.

Within one year of starting a GLP-1 medication, 16.8% of the children had a documented nutritional deficiency or deficiency-related complication. The most common was vitamin D deficiency, which was documented in 12.4% of patients. Nutritional anemia was diagnosed in 1.55%.

Another finding that stood out to me: only 23.3% of children had a nutrition therapy or counseling visit within six months of starting their GLP-1 medication. And the average time to that first nutrition visit was about 149 days.

This study shows that nutrition counseling was relatively uncommon during a period when a child's appetite and food intake may have been changing significantly, showing a missed opportunity for early nutritional intervention.

Can GLP-1 Medications Cause Nutritional Deficiencies?

The findings from the study above show an association between GLP-1 treatment and documented nutritional deficiencies or related complications, but they do not establish that the medications caused those deficiencies.

Because the study used insurance claims data, researchers reviewed nutritional deficiency diagnoses and related medical claims rather than measuring each child's actual food intake or nutrient levels.

One explanation is that children with obesity may already have nutritional gaps before starting medication, including inadequate intake of nutrients such as vitamin D and iron. In addition, children who receive more medical care may simply be more likely to have deficiencies identified.

As a pediatric dietitian, I wouldn't want parents to read these findings and immediately worry that their child's medication is putting them at risk. I would, however, take them as a reminder to be proactive about nutrition, ideally before, or as soon as medication is started.

What Should Children Eat While Taking GLP-1 Medications?

There isn't one perfect "GLP-1 diet" for children. For children taking a GLP-1 medication, nutrition counseling isn't necessarily about following a special diet. It may be as simple as making sure they eat regularly, don't routinely skip meals, get enough protein and other nutrient-dense foods, and learn to manage side effects that make eating difficult.

When appetite is lower, meals and snacks can be an opportunity to provide plenty of nutrition without requiring a child to eat large portions. Protein-rich foods, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and other nutrient-dense foods all have a place.

Protein deserves particular attention because preserving lean body mass matters during weight loss. This doesn’t automatically mean adding daily protein shakes, but it’s important to find realistic ways to include protein throughout the day based on the child's appetite, preferences, nutritional needs, and overall eating pattern.

The new study identified vitamin D and iron as nutritional concerns, while calcium and other nutrients are also important during childhood and adolescence. However, not every child taking a GLP-1 medication automatically needs a collection of supplements.

To understand what your child may need nutritionally, look at the whole picture, in conversation with your child’s healthcare team. What is your child actually eating? How much has their intake changed since starting the medication? Are they skipping meals? Are they avoiding entire food groups? Are side effects making it difficult to eat?

Why Nutrition Counseling Can Help Children Taking GLP-1 Medications

A registered dietitian can help families navigate changes in appetite and food intake while working on helping the child eat a variety of nutritious foods that support growth and development.

This can include packing smaller meals that deliver more nutrition per bite, finding protein sources a child actually likes, optimizing nutrient-dense snacks, identifying potential nutrient gaps, managing nausea or constipation, or determining whether a supplement is appropriate. It can also mean helping parents figure out what to do when their child says they're full after eating very little.

The American Academy of Pediatrics specifically recommends nutrition counseling as part of pediatric obesity treatment and notes that children taking GLP-1 medications should receive guidance around adequate portions, meal patterns, protein-rich foods, and managing gastrointestinal side effects.

Ideally, nutrition support shouldn't begin after a deficiency has already developed.

If nutrition counseling begins when a child starts a GLP-1 medication, families can establish a balanced eating pattern, anticipate potential challenges, and monitor whether a child's nutrition keeps pace with their changing appetite.

The Bottom Line on GLP-1s and Nutrition for Children

GLP-1 medications can be an important tool for adolescents and adults. However, a medication that significantly reduces appetite makes thoughtful nutrition support even more important.

If your child is taking a GLP-1 medication, talk with their healthcare team about starting nutrition counseling early rather than waiting for a deficiency or other problem to show up.

And if you're taking a GLP-1 medication yourself, the same nutrition considerations apply! Eating less doesn't automatically mean you're getting everything your body needs. Working with a dietitian can help make sure weight loss doesn't come at the expense of adequate protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, or overall diet quality.

If you'd like individualized support, I offer nutrition counseling for children, women, and men, including Women's Health and Men's Health Nutrition Counseling packages. 

Thanks for reading!