The news: Weight loss drug prescribing for children and teens increased significantly after the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended the medications’ use, per a new Harvard study. 

The study examined more than 310,000 electronic health records of patients ages 8-17, funded by health data company Truveta.

Zooming in: In early 2023, the AAP published guidelines recommending early intervention for obesity treatment for children and adolescents which included intensive lifestyle intervention and Rx prescriptions.

• The likelihood of Rx used by the young patients increased by 65% immediately after the AAP guidelines were issued and continued to rise 5% monthly.
• The use of nutrition counseling or referrals did not increase initially, but has seen a small increase monthly since then, the study reported.