This is the first study to assess Wegovy in younger children, extending earlier evidence that showed weight loss in older pediatric groups. Rival Eli Lilly has not yet shown that its competing obesity treatment works in kids, so the data give Novo Nordisk a clearer lead in that age bracket.
Researchers followed children above six and under 12 for about a year. Most started with body mass index readings in the high-obesity range. The placebo group still followed a reduced-calorie diet and an exercise plan. Those given Wegovy received weekly shots at doses well below the top strength used in adults.
Two in five children on Wegovy were no longer classified as obese by the end of the study period. None of the kids on placebo met that bar. Beyond the scale, the broader context matters too: childhood obesity in the US has reached its highest recorded level, with about one in five kids and teens affected, setting up risks like heart disease and diabetes that often appear later in life.
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Novo Nordisk shares were near unchanged in Copenhagen on Monday after recovering earlier declines. The stock has fallen 8% this year as the company faces pressure to reignite growth, and recent trial failures have weighed on sentiment.
