From the Research
Zepbound (tirzepatide) is not approved for use in individuals under 18 years old, so it is not considered safe for a 14-year-old. The medication has only been studied and approved by the FDA for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. For adolescents with obesity or weight concerns, treatment should focus on lifestyle modifications including healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, and adequate sleep under medical supervision. If medication is needed for an adolescent with obesity, there are only a few FDA-approved options specifically studied in this age group, such as orlistat for those 12 and older, and more recently, semaglutide (Wegovy) for ages 12 and up with specific weight criteria. Some of the potential side effects of tirzepatide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, thyroid cancer, and cholecystitis 1, as well as gastrointestinal adverse events such as decreased appetite, constipation, and vomiting 5. The reason for age restrictions is that growing adolescents have different physiological needs than adults, and medications like Zepbound may affect growth, development, and have unknown long-term effects in young people whose bodies are still developing. Any weight management approach for a 14-year-old should be supervised by a pediatrician or adolescent medicine specialist who can provide appropriate, age-specific guidance. The most recent and highest quality study on the safety of tirzepatide is a systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2025, which found that tirzepatide had a reassuring renal safety profile and did not increase the risks of adverse renal events 2. However, this study did not include data on the use of tirzepatide in individuals under 18 years old. Therefore, based on the available evidence, it is not recommended to use Zepbound (tirzepatide) in a 14-year-old due to the lack of safety data and potential risks associated with its use in this age group.