Caution is prescribed for American Academy of Paediatrics’ guidelines on weight loss medications for childhood obesity

Key messages
• The 2023 American Academy of Paediatrics’ (AAP) childhood obesity
guidelines are the first to recommend offering weight loss drugs to
adolescents ≥12 years old and permitting use in children aged 8-11
years
• While the AAP claims its guidelines had “an independent review for
bias,” since 2012, it has accepted around $2m in corporate
sponsorship payments from companies developing GLP-1 drugs
• Payments have also been made to AAP’s national leaders and
members of its guideline and systematic review committee
• The drug recommendation is based on limited evidence and guidelines
deviated from established development standards
• The AAP guidelines on weight loss drugs should be interpreted with
caution