Efficacy of liraglutide in pediatric obesity: A review of clinical trial data

Pediatric obesity is steadily increasing, and reaching alarming levels; for this reason, effective interventions are necessary to fight this global health challenge. First-line treatments based on diet and exercise may be ineffective, resulting in common weight regain. Therefore, second and third-line alternatives are necessary in current therapies to address even the most difficult cases. Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, used in the past only in the treatment of diabetes, has shown promising results also in the treatment of obesity in adults. This review aims to explore the potential of liraglutide as a therapeutic option for pediatric obesity, focusing on its mechanism of action, safety profile, and efficacy in clinical trials. Additionally, this review discusses the challenges and opportunities associated with liraglutide's use in the pediatric population, such as bariatric surgery. •Liraglutide is emerging as a potential therapeutic option for pediatric obesity.•Clinical trials conducted on children and adolescents with obesity show promising results in terms of efficacy.•Liraglutide demonstrates a good tolerability and safety profile in the pediatric population.•The use of liraglutide could be useful following bariatric surgery treatment.