2023 was the most memorable year on record for obesity. The American Academy of Pediatrics recognized the complex, multifactorial nature of obesity and the broad range of treatments necessary to care for pediatric patients. The first-ever triple agonist and high-potency oral GLP1 agonist was introduced with unprecedented results.
Key advances
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The American Academy of Pediatrics published its first updated clinical practice guideline in 15 years, recognizing the complex, multifactorial nature of paediatric obesity and embracing the full range of treatment modalities, including lifestyle, pharmacotherapy, and metabolic and bariatric surgery4.
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High-potency GLP1 agonism could only be delivered in injectable form until the oral GLP1 orforglipron study demonstrated similar efficacy to its injectable counterparts5.
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For the first time, phase II clinical trial results demonstrated that triple-agonist, an agonist of the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, GLP1 and glucagon receptors, retatrutide showed higher total body weight loss than any agent prior6.
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Change history
16 February 2024
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-024-00908-1
References
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Current Status and Response to the Global Obesity Pandemic: Proceedings of a Workshop (National Academies Press, 2019).
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Wharton, S. et al. Daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist orforglipron for adults with obesity. N. Engl. J. Med. 389, 877–888 (2023).
Jastreboff, A. M. et al. Triple-hormone-receptor agonist retatrutide for obesity — a phase 2 trial. N. Engl. J. Med. 389, 514–526 (2023).
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Acknowledgements
F.C.S. is supported by National Institutes of Health NIDDK U24 DK132733, UE5 DK137285 and P30 DK040561.
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F.C.S. has served as a paid advisor/consultant to Caibrate, GoodRx, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gelesis, Vida Health, Life Force, Ilant Health, Melli Cell, Novo Nordisk, Clearmind Medicine, and Sweetch.
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Stanford, F.C. A new era in obesity management. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 21, 80–81 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-023-00887-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-023-00887-9
