A systematic review and network meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics analyzed 42 randomized trials to compare obesity treatments in children and teens. The clearest finding: combining GLP-1 receptor agonist medications like semaglutide with lifestyle counseling produced the greatest BMI reductions. Semaglutide plus counseling showed a mean BMI drop of 8.31 points. Importantly, lifestyle treatment alone also meaningfully reduced BMI, and every medication worked better when paired with behavioral support. Researchers emphasized that lifestyle intervention should be the foundation of any pediatric obesity plan, not an optional add-on. With over 750 million young people projected to have overweight or obesity by 2050, these findings carry urgent public health implications.
