The blockbuster weight-loss medication Mounjaro (tirzepatide) has received a new recommendation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), allowing it to be prescribed to children as young as ten years old with type 2 diabetes. This marks a significant expansion of treatment options for younger patients, who previously had limited choices primarily to metformin and insulin for managing this condition, which causes dangerously high blood sugar levels and increases risks of serious health complications like heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke.

Mounjaro, known as a GLP-1 agonist, functions by mimicking natural hormones involved in blood-sugar regulation. This mechanism helps to reduce appetite, slow digestion, and lower glucose levels. For adults, Mounjaro is already approved for both weight loss and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. To qualify, adults must either be clinically obese or have a body mass index (BMI) between 27 and 30, coupled with at least one weight-related health condition such as sleep apnoea, heart disease, or high blood pressure.

A late-stage clinical trial, published in The Lancet, demonstrated Mounjaro's efficacy in children aged between ten and 17 with type 2 diabetes. Over a 52-week period, the drug not only helped them improve blood-sugar control but also resulted in significant weight loss. By 30 weeks, children receiving the 10mg dose experienced meaningful reductions in BMI, losing an average of 11.2 percent. While some participants reported side-effects such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, researchers noted these were consistent with those observed in adult trials, and very few participants discontinued the drug as a result.

Dr. Tamara Hannon, director of the Clinical Diabetes Programme at Indiana University School of Medicine and lead author of the study, highlighted the urgency of this new treatment. She stated, 'Youth living with type 2 diabetes often face a more aggressive disease course - and in many instances, first-line treatments like metformin and insulin fail to control their [blood sugar] adequately.' Dr. Hannon added that these results 'offer a promising opportunity to help shift the long-term health trajectory for young people living with this complex condition.'

The EMA's backing for extending Mounjaro's use to children aged ten and above, either as a stand-alone treatment or as an add-on to other diabetes medicines, places it at a younger age threshold compared to some other GLP-1 drugs. For instance, Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, has already had its weight-loss jab approved for use in children aged 12 and over. Mounjaro has been colloquially dubbed the 'King Kong' of weight-loss drugs due to its effectiveness, with previous studies showing adults losing up to 20 percent of their body weight in just over a year.

The approval comes against a backdrop of soaring childhood obesity rates in England, which significantly contribute to the rise of type 2 diabetes in young people. Latest NHS data, analysed by the Royal Society for Public Health, suggests that by 2035, the majority of children will be overweight or obese in nine areas of England. In 2021/22, one in ten children in reception year were considered obese, and over 22 percent of children in Year 6 (aged 10 to 11) were classed as clinically obese. While national obesity among Year 6 pupils saw a slight fall from 23.4 percent in 2021/22 to 22.7 percent, and the proportion of children deemed either overweight or obese dipped from 37.8 percent to 36.6 percent, both measures remain above pre-pandemic levels.

More than a third of primary school children are already overweight or obese. This alarming trend raises their risk of developing numerous chronic conditions in childhood and later life, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Type 2 diabetes itself occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin – a hormone vital for controlling blood sugar – leading to elevated glucose levels. Over time, the pancreas may also struggle to produce sufficient insulin. Persistently high blood sugar levels, often exacerbated by obesity, can result in severe complications such as heart attacks and strokes, as well as damage to the eyes, kidneys, and feet. Symptoms can include excessive thirst, tiredness, and frequent urination, although many individuals experience no obvious signs initially. The condition is diagnosed via a blood test.

According to the latest figures for 2021/22, almost 4.3 million people were living with diabetes in the UK, with approximately 90 percent of these cases being type 2 diabetes, which is strongly linked to obesity. Mounjaro, by mimicking the naturally occurring gut hormone GLP-1, helps the body release insulin when needed, balance blood sugar, reduce appetite, and slow digestion, offering a multi-faceted approach to managing this complex and increasingly prevalent condition in young people.