Childhood Diabetes Drug Use Doubles

The use of medications for type-2 diabetes has more than doubled for children aged 5 to 19. That's the most startling result in a study of childhood medicines done at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

The research found that the use of asthma medicines rose by 46.5% between 2002 and 2005, while drug use for ADD/ADHD increased by 40%. The researchers partially put the blame on childhood obesity.

"Our findings show that childhood obesity not only has long term health implications, but also impacts children's immediate health," says study investigator Dr. Donna Halloran.

The study appears in this Month's journal, Pediatrics.

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