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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism

Semaglutide for Treating Paediatric Craniopharyngioma‐Related Obesity: A Multicentre Case Series

  • Joanne Dornberger1
  • Pascal Barat2,3
  • Karine Aouchiche4,5
  • Kevin Perge6,7
  • Carine Villanueva6,7
  • Sarah Castets4,5
  • Natacha Bouhours‐Nouet8,9
  • Aurelie Donzeau8,9
  • Lucie Levaillant8,9
  • Cecile Teinturier10,11
  • Rachel Reynaud4,5
  • Ahlam Azar‐Kolakez12,13,14
3 more authors
  • Laetitia Martinerie12,13,14
  • Dulanjalee Kariyawasam13,14,15
  • Regis Coutant8,9
15 affiliations
  1. 1Endocrine, Bone Diseases and Genetics Unit Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital Toulouse France
  2. 2Department of Pediatric Endocrinology CHU Bordeaux Bordeaux France
  3. 3Reference Center for Rare Obesity CHU Bordeaux Bordeaux France
  4. 4Department of Pediatric Endocrinology Assistance Publique‐Hôpitaux de Marseille Marseille France
  5. 5Reference Center for Rare Pituitary Diseases Marseille France
  6. 6Department of Pediatric Endocrinology Civil Hospices of Lyon Lyon France
  7. 7Reference Center for Rare Pituitary Diseases Civil Hospices of Lyon Lyon France
  8. 8Department of Pediatric Endocrinology University Hospital Angers France
  9. 9Reference Center for Rare Pituitary Diseases University Hospital Angers France
  10. 10Department of Pediatric Endocrinology Bicetre University Hospital Le Kremlin‐Bicêtre France
  11. 11Reference Center for Rare Pituitary Diseases Bicetre University Hospital Paris France
  12. 12Department of Pediatric Endocrinology CHU Robert Debré, Assistance Publique‐Hôpitaux de Paris Paris France
  13. 13Reference Center for Rare Disease of Growth and Development (CRESCENDO) Paris France
  14. 14Université Paris Cité Paris France
  15. 15Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology, Gynecology Department Necker–Enfants Malades University Hospital Paris France
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Abstract

Aims: Obesity is a complication of childhood craniopharyngioma that remains difficult to treat. We investigated whether semaglutide was associated with a decrease in BMI among adolescents with craniopharyngioma‐related obesity.

Material and Methods: This multicentre retrospective study included 20 patients < 18 years old with craniopharyngioma and obesity (BMI > 2 WHO Z‐score) from 2019 to 2024 (source population: 139 children with craniopharyngioma, including 36 children with obesity). They received off‐label semaglutide with dose titration (0.25–2 mg/week), tailored to tolerance and clinical response. The primary outcome was the within‐patient comparison of BMI change from −12 months to treatment initiation and from initiation to +12 months.

Results: At semaglutide initiation, patients were 14.0 ± 3.9 years old, the interval since craniopharyngioma diagnosis was 6.3 ± 4.7 years, and BMI was 33.4 ± 3.9 kg/m2 (3.2 ± 0.7 Z‐score). Tumour treatment was surgery alone (8/20), surgery and proton therapy (11/20), or proton therapy alone (1/20). All patients had growth hormone and TSH deficiency; 19/20 had ACTH and AVP deficiency. In the year before treatment, patients gained 3.5 ± 4.4 kg/m2 in BMI and 0.6 ± 1.6 in BMI Z‐score; after 1 year of semaglutide therapy, they lost 2.5 ± 3.9 kg/m2 in BMI and 0.5 ± 0.5 in BMI Z‐score (paired comparisons, p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). During treatment, BMI decreased by 10% or more in 40% of patients (95% CI: 19%–64%). Gastrointestinal side effects occurred in 30% of patients but were mild. No cases of treatment discontinuation, pituitary insufficiency decompensation or tumour recurrence were observed.

Conclusions: Semaglutide was associated with reversal of weight gain among adolescents with craniopharyngioma‐related obesity.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{dornberger2026semaglutide,
  title = {{Semaglutide for Treating Paediatric Craniopharyngioma‐Related Obesity: A Multicentre Case Series}},
  author = {Joanne Dornberger and Pascal Barat and Karine Aouchiche and Kevin Perge and Carine Villanueva and Sarah Castets and Natacha Bouhours‐Nouet and Aurelie Donzeau and Lucie Levaillant and Cecile Teinturier and Rachel Reynaud and Ahlam Azar‐Kolakez and Laetitia Martinerie and Dulanjalee Kariyawasam and Regis Coutant},
  journal = {Diabetes, Obesity \& Metabolism},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1111/dom.71403},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.71403},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Semaglutide for Treating Paediatric Craniopharyngioma‐Related Obesity: A Multicentre Case Series
AU  - Joanne Dornberger
AU  - Pascal Barat
AU  - Karine Aouchiche
AU  - Kevin Perge
AU  - Carine Villanueva
AU  - Sarah Castets
AU  - Natacha Bouhours‐Nouet
AU  - Aurelie Donzeau
AU  - Lucie Levaillant
AU  - Cecile Teinturier
AU  - Rachel Reynaud
AU  - Ahlam Azar‐Kolakez
AU  - Laetitia Martinerie
AU  - Dulanjalee Kariyawasam
AU  - Regis Coutant
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/28
JO  - Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism
DO  - 10.1111/dom.71403
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.71403
AB  - Aims: Obesity is a complication of childhood craniopharyngioma that remains difficult to treat. We investigated whether semaglutide was associated with a decrease in BMI among adolescents with craniopharyngioma‐related obesity.  Material and Methods: This multicentre retrospective study included 20 patients < 18 years old with craniopharyngioma and obesity (BMI > 2 WHO Z‐score) from 2019 to 2024 (source population: 139 children with craniopharyngioma, including 36 children with obesity). They received off‐label semaglutide with dose titration (0.25–2 mg/week), tailored to tolerance and clinical response. The primary outcome was the within‐patient comparison of BMI change from −12 months to treatment initiation and from initiation to +12 months.  Results: At semaglutide initiation, patients were 14.0 ± 3.9 years old, the interval since craniopharyngioma diagnosis was 6.3 ± 4.7 years, and BMI was 33.4 ± 3.9 kg/m2 (3.2 ± 0.7 Z‐score). Tumour treatment was surgery alone (8/20), surgery and proton therapy (11/20), or proton therapy alone (1/20). All patients had growth hormone and TSH deficiency; 19/20 had ACTH and AVP deficiency. In the year before treatment, patients gained 3.5 ± 4.4 kg/m2 in BMI and 0.6 ± 1.6 in BMI Z‐score; after 1 year of semaglutide therapy, they lost 2.5 ± 3.9 kg/m2 in BMI and 0.5 ± 0.5 in BMI Z‐score (paired comparisons, p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). During treatment, BMI decreased by 10% or more in 40% of patients (95% CI: 19%–64%). Gastrointestinal side effects occurred in 30% of patients but were mild. No cases of treatment discontinuation, pituitary insufficiency decompensation or tumour recurrence were observed.  Conclusions: Semaglutide was associated with reversal of weight gain among adolescents with craniopharyngioma‐related obesity.
SN  - 1462-8902
SN  - 1463-1326
ER  -