Wegovy for Teens: Evidence, Eligibility, Coverage
Yes, from age 12: Wegovy is FDA approved for weight loss in children 12 and older. In STEP TEENS, BMI fell 16.1% on average for people on Wegovy, vs 0.6% on placebo.
- For teens
- From age 12, for weight loss
- Active ingredient
- semaglutide
- How it is taken
- weekly injection or daily tablet
- Best result (STEP TEENS)
- 16.1% drop in BMI
Wegovy overview
Its half-life is about 1 week: after 7 d, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (35 d).
In STEP 1, people lost 14.9% of body weight over 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% on placebo.
Prices each month, in US dollars: the list price and the self-pay offers, all taken from the price page of the maker.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Who qualifies?
| Source | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | For adults with heart disease plus obesity or overweight, it reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death (injection and tablets). |
| FDA label | This covers long term weight loss and keeping it off, through diet and activity, for adults and children 12 and older who have obesity, and for adults who have overweight and a weight-related condition. |
| FDA label | In adults, MASH liver disease with scarring that is moderate to advanced and no cirrhosis is treated with it (injection). |
| FDA label | In adults, the tablets are approved for weight loss and for heart risk. |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Teen trial results
| Trial | Medicine | Who took part | Length | People | Main result | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP TEENS | Wegovy | Teens aged 12 to 17 with obesity | 68 weeks | 201 | 16.1% drop in BMI | 0.6% on placebo |
Trial sources: STEP TEENS (PubMed).
What is different for teens?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Acute Pancreatitis | Can cause inflammation of the pancreas. When severe stomach pain will not stop and sometimes reaches your back, stop the medicine and get care. |
| Acute Gallbladder Disease | Gallstones and gallbladder inflammation can happen. A fever, pain in the upper right part of the belly, or yellowing of the skin or eyes should be reported. |
Per the FDA labels: label on DailyMed.
Warnings listed in the FDA label (DailyMed).
Coverage for teens
- Wegovy Coupon and Savings Card
- Wegovy Cost
- Wegovy Cost Without Insurance
- Wegovy Cost With Insurance
- Cheapest Way to Get Wegovy
- Wegovy Patient Assistance
- Is Wegovy Covered by Insurance? Criteria, Copay, Appeal
- Does Medicare Cover Wegovy? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
- Does BCBS Cover Wegovy? Coverage by State Plan, PA Rules, Appeals
Alternatives for teens
| Medicine | For teens | How it is taken | Trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy | From age 12, for weight loss | weekly injection or daily tablet | 16.1% drop in BMI |
 Mounjaro | From age 10, for type 2 diabetes | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Trulicity | From age 10, for type 2 diabetes | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Saxenda | From age 12, for weight loss | daily injection | Not listed |
 Victoza | From age 10, for type 2 diabetes | daily injection | Not listed |
 Ozempic | Adults only | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Rybelsus | Adults only | daily tablet | Not listed |
 Zepbound | Adults only | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Foundayo | Adults only | daily tablet | Not listed |
| Byetta | Adults only | twice-daily injection | Not listed |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), PubMed.
Questions to ask your prescriber
- Is my child's age within what this medicine's label allows?
- How will follow-up track growth and eating over time?
- What happens if my child wants to stop taking it?
Go through the complete Wegovy prescribing information on DailyMed.