Tirzepatide for treating obesity and overweight in adolescents with weight-related comorbidities

Tirzepatide is in development for the treatment of obesity and overweight in adolescents with weight-related comorbidities. Obesity or overweight occur when a person is living with excess body fat. People with obesity or overweight have a significantly increased risk of developing serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and the occurrence of stroke. The rate of adolescents being diagnosed as overweight or obese in England has increased in recent decades and these conditions have been linked with poor health outcomes in adulthood. Overweight and obesity are complex conditions with multiple potential causes and risk factors, including having an unhealthy lifestyle (consuming more calories – particularly those in fatty and sugary foods – than are burned off through physical activity) and genetic factors, which can result in excess fat storage. Current treatments for obesity and overweight are limited due to issues including modest effectiveness, cost and safety issues.