Dynamics of Body Composition and Metabolic Risk in Adolescents With Obesity Under <scp>GLP</scp> ‐1 Receptor Agonist Therapy
AIM: To explore changes in body composition in adolescents with obesity treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) and their association with metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. METHODS: This real-world retrospective study included adolescents (12-18 years) with obesity who received multidisciplinary lifestyle-based obesity care between 2020 and 2024. GLP-1 RA therapy (liraglutide or semaglutide) was prescribed and dosed on an individualised basis. BMI and muscle-to-fat ratio (MFR) z-scores (by bioimpedance), and MetS components (glucose intolerance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) were evaluated and compared with patients not receiving GLP-1 RA at corresponding time points. Multivariable regression analyses adjusted for sex, age, physical activity, and length of follow-up evaluated contributors for improvement in body composition. RESULTS: = 0.231, p = 0.012, respectively). A 0.25-unit decrease in BMI z-score and a 0.25-unit increase in MFR z-score were associated with 2.8-fold and 1.8-fold higher odds of MetS component improvement, respectively. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with obesity under GLP-1 RA therapy combined with lifestyle intervention demonstrated improvements in body composition and MetS components.
Authors
- Ronit Lubetzky
- Adar Lopez
- Hagar Interator (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2588-7424)
- Hadar Moran‐Lev (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5177-9478)
- Avivit Brener (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2742-8264)
- Yael Lebenthal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5963-0574)
- Liat Perl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8207-1130)
- Erez Azoulay
- Ophir Borger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6019-4159)
- Eyal Cohen‐Sela (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0083-9443)
- Yael Issan
- Shira Zelber-Sagi
Institutions
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (IL)
- University of Haifa (IL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Acta Paediatrica
- Published
- 2026-04-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70554
- Primary Topic
- Diabetes Treatment and Management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00