Which weight-management medication is not approved owing to low efficacy?

• A. Orlistat
• B. Liraglutide
• C. Phentermine
• D. Lisdexamfetamine

Answer: (D)

Medications for weight management in young people are approved only when trials show meaningful, durable weight loss with acceptable safety. Lisdexamfetamine hasn’t demonstrated enough weight-loss benefit in pediatric obesity studies to merit approval for this use, and its stimulant effects raise safety and misuse concerns, so it isn’t approved for obesity management. By contrast, orlistat is approved for adolescents 12 and older and produces modest weight loss by reducing fat absorption, and liraglutide has shown enough weight loss in teens to receive pediatric approval under specific BMI criteria. Phentermine is generally not approved for pediatric obesity, being reserved for adults under strict guidelines. The limited efficacy data for this medication in youth explains why it is not approved for obesity.