The ethics of wegovy for children: the argument from too many unknowns

Journal article

Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) marketed as Wegovy, has gained international attention for its appetite-suppressing and weight-loss effects. Approved by the U.S. FDA in 2022 for paediatric use in children aged 12 and older, Wegovy has since received similar approvals in several countries. Despite this, uptake among youth has been limited. While some clinicians advocate for broader paediatric use of Wegovy as an underutilised tool to address obesity, others urge caution citing concerns regarding its long-term safety, efficacy, and appropriateness in growing children. When prescribing medication to children there are many ethical dimensions to consider. This paper focuses on the risks, side-effects, and unknowns of Wegovy as a barrier to use in paediatric care. We argue that, while long-term effects remain uncertain, this uncertainty alone should not preclude its use in children.

Authors: Ryan, N; Savulescu, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer
• Journal: Monash Bioethics Review
• Pages: 1-17
• Publication date: 2026-01-17
• DOI: 10.1007/s40592-025-00280-z
• EISSN: 1836-6716
• ISSN: 1321-2753
• Language: English
• Keywords: Argument (complex analysis); Proposition; Perspective (graphical); Interpretation (philosophy); Subject (documents); Context (archaeology)