As GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs gain popularity for weight loss in adults, UCI Health pediatrician Dan Cooper, MD warns that their use in children and adolescents may carry serious, unknown risks. These medications, which act on major brain receptors, could potentially alter growth, metabolism, and behavior during critical developmental stages. Cooper emphasizes the urgent need for independent, long-term studies not funded by drug manufacturers to fully understand the impact on young patients.

His research, published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, highlights concerns including nutritional deficiencies and increased risk of suicidal ideation, calling for a more cautious and evidence-based approach to pediatric obesity treatment.