Two out of five. That’s how many children ages 6 to 11 with obesity moved out of the obesity range after 68 weeks on weekly semaglutide in Novo Nordisk’s new STEP Young trial – compared with zero kids on placebo.
The topline results, announced September 7, 2026, are the first phase 3 data on semaglutide for children this young. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic. Here’s what the trial found, what it didn’t tell us yet, where the rules stand today, and the questions worth bringing to your pediatrician.
What the STEP Young Trial Found
STEP Young was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial run in several countries. It enrolled 165 children ages 6 to under 12 who have obesity, according to Novo Nordisk’s official announcement.
These weren’t borderline cases. More than 85% of the kids started the trial with class II or class III obesity – the most severe categories.
The headline numbers:
- Primary goal met: BMI dropped more in the semaglutide group than the placebo group at week 68.
- 40.4% vs. 0%: About two in five children on semaglutide were no longer classified as having obesity at 68 weeks. None of the children on placebo crossed that line.
- Dosing: Kids received a once-weekly injection, with a maximum dose of either 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg based on their starting weight.
- Safety: Novo said safety and tolerability matched earlier semaglutide and liraglutide trials in adults and teens, with no new safety concerns – and none flagged for growth or puberty.
One important detail: everyone in the trial, including the placebo group, got lifestyle support – a reduced-calorie eating plan and more physical activity. So the 40.4% reflects medication plus lifestyle support, compared with lifestyle support alone.
“Most of the children in the STEP Young trial were classified as having severe (class II or III) obesity at baseline, yet treatment with semaglutide resulted in a BMI percentile category below the obesity threshold in approximately 40% of the children within about a year of treatment,” said Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff, director of the Yale Obesity Research Center, in the company’s release.
What “No Longer in the Obesity Range” Means for Kids
BMI works differently for children than it does for adults. Because kids are still growing, doctors compare a child’s BMI with other children of the same age and sex using CDC growth charts.
- Obesity in children means a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex.
- Class II obesity means a BMI at least 120% of that 95th-percentile mark.
- Class III obesity means at least 140% of it.
So when Novo says 40.4% of children were “no longer classified as having obesity,” it means their BMI percentile dropped below that 95th-percentile line – into the overweight or healthy-weight range. It’s a change in category, not a specific number of pounds.
There’s also a technical footnote parents should know. The 40.4% figure is based on what’s called the “trial product estimand” – an estimate of the effect if every child had stuck with treatment as planned. Real-world results, where kids miss doses or stop, can look different.
Semaglutide for Children: What We Still Don’t Know
The biggest caveat on this semaglutide for children news: it comes from a company press release, not a peer-reviewed paper. That matters. Independent experts haven’t yet seen the full data.
As the trade outlet Contemporary Pediatrics pointed out (in coverage summarized by Childhood Obesity News), the topline release did not include:
- The average BMI change in each group
- The difference between groups, with confidence intervals
- Detailed rates of stomach-related side effects like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Serious adverse events, or how many kids stopped treatment
Longer-term questions are still open, too. What happens to weight after a child stops the medication? How do years of treatment affect growth, bone health, puberty, eating behavior and emotional well-being? The trial lists some supportive measures out to week 104, so more data may come later.
Novo says detailed STEP Young results will be presented at ObesityWeek 2026, the Obesity Society’s annual meeting, November 14-17 in Washington, D.C. That’s when outside researchers will finally get to kick the tires.
Is Semaglutide for Children Approved Right Now?
Short answer: not for kids under 12 in the US.
| Group | Semaglutide (Wegovy) status in the US |
|---|---|
| Adults with obesity | FDA-approved for chronic weight management |
| Teens 12 and older with obesity | FDA-approved since December 2022 |
| Children 6 to 11 | Not approved – STEP Young could support a future filing |
The FDA approved Wegovy for adolescents 12 and up with a BMI at or above the 95th percentile in December 2022. Per Barron’s reporting cited by Childhood Obesity News, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are not approved for children younger than 12 in the US.
Europe is a step ahead for one older drug in the same family. The European Medicines Agency lists liraglutide (Saxenda) for children ages 6 to under 12 with obesity who weigh at least 45 kg. Semaglutide has no such approval for this age group yet.
Novo notes that STEP Young was run to meet regulators’ post-marketing requirements for its semaglutide program. The company hasn’t announced a US filing timeline for semaglutide for children in this younger age group.
What Pediatricians Say About Treating Childhood Obesity
The American Academy of Pediatrics released its first-ever clinical practice guideline on obesity in 2023. It treats obesity as a complex chronic disease – not a failure of willpower by kids or parents.
Key points from the AAP guideline:
- Intensive lifestyle treatment is the foundation. That means family-based, face-to-face support on nutrition, activity and behavior for kids 6 and up. The strongest results come with at least 26 hours of contact over 3 to 12 months.
- Medication for teens. Pediatricians should offer weight-loss medication to adolescents 12 and older with obesity as an add-on to lifestyle treatment, based on risks and benefits.
- Treat early. The AAP moved away from “watchful waiting,” since obesity in childhood often continues into adulthood.
Why it matters: according to the CDC, about 19.7% of US kids and teens ages 2 to 19 had obesity in 2017-March 2020 – roughly 14.7 million young people. Among children ages 6 to 11, the rate was 20.7%. This is common, and it’s shaped by many things outside a child’s control, including genetics, sleep, stress, medications, food access and neighborhood.
If semaglutide for children under 12 is eventually approved, it would most likely be one tool inside that bigger care plan – not a stand-alone fix. The STEP Young design reflects that: every child got lifestyle support.
Questions to Ask Your Pediatrician About Semaglutide for Children
If your child has obesity and you’re wondering whether this news applies to your family, here are practical conversation-starters:
- “Where is my child on the growth chart – and what does that mean for their health?” Ask about blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, liver health, sleep and joint pain, not just the number.
- “Is there an intensive family-based program near us?” Ask whether insurance covers it, or whether there’s a telehealth option.
- “Is my child a candidate for medication now or in the future?” For teens 12 and up, several FDA-approved options exist. For younger kids, ask about clinical trials.
- “What side effects should we watch for?” GLP-1 medications commonly cause stomach upset in adults and teens.
- “How do we protect healthy growth?” Kids need enough protein, calcium and nutrients to grow, even when appetite drops.
- “What’s the long-term plan?” Ask what happens if medication stops.
A safety note: never give a child a GLP-1 prescribed for someone else, and steer clear of compounded or online “semaglutide” sold without a pediatric evaluation. Children need age-appropriate dosing and monitoring.
For background on how these drugs are reshaping medicine, see our explainer on why GLP-1 drugs became 2026’s biggest health story, and our look at why GLP-1 weight-loss drugs work for some people and not others.
How to Talk With Your Child About Weight and Health
How we talk about weight matters as much as any treatment. Novo’s release points to research linking childhood obesity with depression, disordered eating and bullying, and to studies finding quality of life comparable to that of children undergoing cancer treatment.
A few kid-friendly approaches that keep the focus on health, not blame:
- Focus on health and strength, not the scale. “We’re all eating more veggies so our bodies feel strong” beats “You need to lose weight.”
- Make changes as a family. Don’t single out one child with a special diet while everyone else eats differently.
- Use person-first language. “A child with obesity,” not “an obese child.” It keeps the focus on the person.
- Protect sleep and power down screens before bed. Good routines help the whole household.
- Watch for teasing. If your child is being bullied about weight, loop in the school and your pediatrician.
The Bottom Line for Parents
STEP Young is genuinely encouraging news. It suggests semaglutide for children ages 6 to 11 with severe obesity – paired with lifestyle support – may help a meaningful share of kids move out of the obesity range in well under two years.
But it’s early. The data come from a company press release, the full numbers and side-effect details aren’t public yet, and semaglutide isn’t FDA-approved for children under 12. Watch for the full results at ObesityWeek in mid-November.
Your next step this week: if you have questions about your child’s weight or health, book a visit with your pediatrician and bring the list above. You’re not asking for a prescription – you’re starting a conversation about the best plan for your kid.
This article is for general information and isn’t medical advice. Talk to your child’s pediatrician or a qualified health professional before starting or changing any treatment.
