GLP-1 Therapy for Weight Loss and Improved Glucose Tolerance in Obese Children

Summary

The prevalence of severely obese children is on the rise. Behavioral therapies for weight loss are successful in some, but others need more aggressive approaches such as drug therapy. In addition, up to 25% of severely obese children have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), which places them at significantly elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Although various drug therapies for weight loss and IGT have been explored in adults, few have been evaluated in children. Recently, a new drug class has emerged that targets deficiencies of GLP-1. One of the main glycemic mechanisms of action of the GLP-1 agonists such as exenatide is to enhance glucose disposal in the postprandial setting and improve glucose tolerance. In addition, exenatide can induce weight loss by decreasing appetite and slowing gastric motility.

Timeline

Start

2009-05

Primary completion

2011-02

Completion

2011-02

Publications

• Kelly AS, Metzig AM, Rudser KD, Fitch AK, Fox CK, Nathan BM, Deering MM, Schwartz BL, Abuzzahab MJ, Gandrud LM, Moran A, Billington CJ, Schwarzenberg SJ. Exenatide as a weight-loss therapy in extreme pediatric obesity: a randomized, controlled pilot study. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2012 Feb;20(2):364-70. doi: 10.1038/oby.2011.337. Epub 2011 Nov 10.

Drugs

Indications