
Teens Turn to GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs as Surgery Falls Out of Favor
A UT Southwestern study of 204,148 youths aged 13–25 treated for obesity found GLP-1 medications (like semaglutide) are increasingly used, with exclusive GLP-1 use rising from 88.2% in 2022 to 96.1% in 2025–2026 and bariatric surgery dropping from 11.6% to 3.7%, signaling a rapid shift in obesity care toward medications for young people, though long‑term effects and treatment sequencing remain uncertain and these drugs should augment—not replace—comprehensive care.













