Weight Loss Drugs Raise Concerns: Why Our Kids Need More Than a Quick Fix
Imagine your teen comes home and says, “My friend is taking a shot to lose weight.”
You freeze.
It’s not a made-up story. It’s a growing trend. And it raises a critical question for parents, teachers, and mentors: What are we really teaching our kids about health, discipline, and identity?
Weight loss drugs like Wegovy are being prescribed to more teens than ever. Some see this as progress. Others, like us, pause to consider the bigger picture. What does it mean when we hand children a prescription instead of a plan? A solution instead of support?
Let’s look at why this matters and what we can do instead.
The Numbers Tell a Story
In 2023, 9.9 out of every 100,000 teens were prescribed Wegovy. In early 2024, that number rose to 17.3.
The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends weight loss medications for kids as young as 12. This dramatic shift leaves many wondering: Are we supporting healthy growth, or are we sending the wrong message?
The truth is, the science is still catching up. The long-term impact of these drugs on developing bodies is not fully known. What we do know is that identity, responsibility, and habits are being shaped during this exact stage of life.
So, what are we teaching?
The Power of Personal Responsibility
We all want kids to be healthy. But how they get there is just as important as where they end up.
Dr. Kathy shared on the podcast that when kids are handed a pill or a shot as the primary solution, they may begin to believe they’re not capable of achieving health on their own. That belief can damage their agency and identity. Instead of building resilience, we risk cultivating dependency.
Health habits are hard to build, but the confidence that grows from small victories is worth it. Choosing the apple instead of the candy bar, saying yes to a walk around the block, these moments build internal strength that no medication can replicate.
Understanding What’s Underneath
Obesity is never just about food. It’s about time, access, emotions, family routines, and sometimes even safety.
Maybe a child’s parents are juggling two jobs and depend on fast food for convenience. Maybe their neighborhood isn’t safe enough for outdoor play. Maybe no one has taught them how to cook a healthy meal.
This is why quick fixes fall short. We can’t change numbers on a scale without first addressing the story behind the habits.
As parents, we need to get curious before we get critical. Ask questions like:
What’s making this hard for you?
What would help you feel stronger today?
What’s one small choice we can make together?
This approach builds relationship, not shame.
Modeling a Healthy Identity
Dr. Kathy shared her story on the podcast: her struggle with weight, her sacrifices, and how choosing health built something deeper than just a new number on a scale. It built self-respect.
We want that for our kids; not perfection or image, but integrity, strength, and a belief that they can do hard things because God created them to grow.
Identity is shaped when kids see themselves as capable. When we help them work toward a goal, rather than shortcut around it, we help them become stronger.
Try This Together
You don’t need to overhaul your life to start making better choices with your child. Just try one of these:
Shop and Prep Together
Let your child pick one new fruit or veggie at the store. Wash, chop, and eat it together. Make health fun and shared.Plan a Movement Moment
Go for a short walk after dinner. Dance in the kitchen. Play catch. Choose activity over screens, for just 10 minutes.Talk About the “Why”
Instead of focusing on weight, talk about how being strong helps us serve others better, think more clearly, and feel more confident in who we are.
Engage Their Smarts to Build Healthy Habits
Use the 8 Great Smarts to make health meaningful:
Word Smart kids may write journal entries about how they feel after healthy meals or activities.
Logic Smart kids love tracking progress or understanding the science of nutrition.
Picture Smart kids might create food charts, exercise illustrations, or vision boards.
Music Smart kids can create playlists for walks or dance workouts.
Body Smart kids need to move. Invite them to help cook, garden, or take walks.
Nature Smart kids enjoy exploring farmer’s markets, hiking trails, or backyard gardens.
People Smart kids do best when health habits are social—group workouts, meal prep with family, or talking about goals.
Self Smart kids benefit from quiet reflection and personal goal setting.
There’s a path to health for every child. Let’s match it to how they’re smart.
Remember: we all want what’s best for our kids. But sometimes what’s easiest isn’t what’s best.
Weight loss drugs may offer relief. But if they replace responsibility, they rob our kids of something even more powerful, the opportunity to grow stronger through effort, supported by love.
Let’s be the people who walk the long road with our kids.
Let’s model self-discipline, speak hope into hard places, and build strength in their souls.
Because health isn’t just about the body. It’s about identity. And identity is best formed when kids believe they are capable, valuable, and loved enough to choose well.