Pharmacological Treatment - An Overview of Its Role in Managing Childhood Obesity

The aim of the study is to examine the effects of pharmacological treatment for obesity on BMI trajectories and metabolic markers among patients in routine clinical care. A retrospective observational study. By collecting and analysing real-life data from the first children and adolescents in Sweden who have been offered pharmacological treatment for obesity, the results can contribute to a better understanding of how these treatments function in practice.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Child Obesity; Obesity (Disorder)
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Liraglutide 3 mg (Saxenda)

Detailed Description

Aim

The aim of this sub-study is to evaluate the impact of liraglutide treatment on the trajectory of body mass index (BMI), including BMI according to International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria and BMI standard deviation score (BMI SDS), as well as its effects on cardiovascular risk markers among children and adolescents treated with liraglutide in two Swedish regions. The study seeks to generate real-world evidence on the effectiveness of liraglutide in routine clinical practice.

Study Design

This is a retrospective, observational study based on medical records of children and adolescents who received multidisciplinary obesity care for at least one year and were treated with liraglutide during 2022-2023 at either the Pediatric Clinic in Region Halland or the Regional Childhood Obesity Center at Queen Silvia's Children's Hospital. The study is non-interventional and does not introduce any additional risks beyond standard clinical care. Participation was voluntary, with informed consent obtained from legal guardians and assent from children.

Participants

Eligible participants include children and adolescents who:

Were enrolled in multidisciplinary obesity care for at least one year

Received liraglutide treatment during 2022-2023 at one of the study sites

Were invited to participate either during clinical visits or via written invitation

Data on comorbidities, including neuropsychiatric diagnoses, were also collected to assess potential confounding factors.

Data Collection

Data were extracted retrospectively from medical records and include:

Demographics: sex, age

Anthropometrics: height, weight, BMI, BMI SDS, BMI according to IOTF criteria

Treatment details: titration period, maximum tolerated dose, and treatment outcomes at 3-6, 12, 18.

Metabolic parameters: blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting glucose, and HbA1c

Comorbidities: neuropsychiatric and other relevant diagnoses

All data were anonymized and handled in accordance with Swedish data protection regulations.

Statistical Analysis

Descriptive Statistics:

Continuous variables (e.g., age, BMI, metabolic parameters) will be summarized using mean ± standard deviation (SD) or median with interquartile range (IQR), as appropriate.

Categorical variables (e.g., sex, comorbidities) will be summarized using counts and percentages.

Treatment effects at 3-6, 12, 18, and 24 months will be evaluated using appropriate repeated measures models, accounting for potential confounders such as age, sex, baseline BMI, and comorbidities.

Handling of Missing Data:

Missing data will be assessed for patterns and mechanisms.

Multiple imputation or sensitivity analyses may be performed depending on the proportion and nature of missing values.

Statistical Collaboration:

All analyses will be conducted in collaboration with an experienced statistician.

The analysis plan and results will be reviewed and validated by both the statistician and study supervisors.

Ethical Considerations

Participation was voluntary and did not affect ongoing clinical care.

Informed consent was obtained from legal guardians, with assent from children.

Data were anonymized and managed according to Swedish data protection laws.

The study was retrospective and non-interventional; no specific approval from the Swedish Medical Products Agency was required.

All procedures adhere to the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Dissemination

Results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and scientific conference presentations. Sub-study III is expected to be finalized in 2026.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 128

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Sweden
  • Gothenburg, Sweden, 416 50
    • the Regional Childhood Obesity Center, Queen Silvia's Children's Hospital.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Children at the Pediatric Clinic, Region Halland, and at the Regional Childhood Obesity Center, Queen Silvia's Children's Hospital.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adolescents aged 10-18 years with obesity who were offered pharmacological treatment
• Provided consent to participate
• Participants with short treatment duration, early adverse effects, or who proceeded to surgery are also included in baseline data

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hypothalamic obesity
• Craniopharyngioma
• Syndromic obesity / monogenic obesity

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
The study included adolescents aged 10-18 years with obesity who were offered liraglutide treatment	Other: Liraglutide 3 mg (Saxenda); This is a retrospective observational study of adolescents aged 10-18 years with obesity who were offered liraglutide treatment at the Pediatric Clinic in Region Halland and at the Regional Childhood Obesity Center, Queen Silvia's Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change in Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Score (BMI SDS) over time	The primary outcome, change in BMI SDS, will be evaluated at -12 months (pre-baseline), at baseline (0 months), and at +3-6, +12, and +18 months following treatment initiation.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Göteborg University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 20, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 12, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 12, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 12, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 12, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 26, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2026
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: liraglutide child obesity
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Obesity; Pediatric Obesity; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Gastrointestinal Hormones; Glucagon-Like Peptides; Proglucagon; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; Liraglutide
• Other Study ID Numbers: Dnr 2023-04013-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared with other researchers. This decision is based on ethical and legal considerations, as the dataset includes sensitive health information from children and adolescents. According to Swedish data protection regulations and the conditions of the ethical approval, IPD cannot be shared outside the research team. Only aggregated, anonymized results will be made available through scientific publications and presentations.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No