On September 7, 2026, Novo Nordisk announced results from its STEP Young clinical trial involving children aged 6 to 12. The study found that 40.4% of participants using semaglutide no longer met obesity criteria after 68 weeks.

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The 40.4% shift in the STEP Young trial

Novo Nordisk, the Copenhagen-based pharmaceutical giant, reported that a significant portion of children in its recent study saw their obesity status change. According to the company, 40.4% of participants aged 6 to under 12 moved out of the obessity classification after 68 weeks of semaglutide treatment. This result was achieved through the STEP Young trial, which measured changes in body mass index (BMI) compared to a placebo group. The company stated that the trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a superior reduction in BMI for the semaglutide group.

A 300-fold surge in U.S. GLP-1 prescriptions

The clinical findings from Novo Nordisk arrive amidst a massive shift in how weight-loss medications are being used in the United States. As reported by the source, prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs among American children under the age of 12 have increased more than 300-fold since 2019. While semaglutide—the active ingredient in Wegovy—is part of this drug class, it is important to note that these medications are not currently approved for children in this age bracket. The rapid rise in usage suggests that clinicians and families are increasingly looking toward GLP-1 medicines to address pediatric obesity, even before formal regulatory approval for the youngest age groups is finalized.

The role of diet and exercise in the STEP Young protocol

The STEP Young trial did not test semaglutide as a standalone solution, but rather as a supplement to traditional health interventions. Every child in the study, including those in the plcebo group, participated in lifestyle modifications such as:

  • A reduced-calorie diet
  • Increased physical activity
Martin Holst Lange, Novo Nordisk's chief scientific officer, stated that the company is encouraged by the potential for semaglutide to help children manage obesity when paired with these healthy habits. This design ensures that the primary comparison reflects the added therapeutic effect of the medication rather than just the impact of diet and exercise alone.

The challenge of "full adherence" in young patients

Despite the positive data, several critical questions remain regarding the real-world application of these results. The 40 .4% success rate cited by Novo Nordisk was based on an analysis that assumed "full adherence" to the assigned medication regimen for the entire 68-week period. It remains unverified how many children in a non-clinical, real-world setting would be able to maintain such strict consistency without the oversight of a controlled study. Additionally, while Novo Nordisk reported that safety and tolerability were consistent with earlier studies in adults and adolescents,the long-term effects on a developing 6-year-old remain a subject of scrutiny for medical professionals.