Children and teenagers aged 5–19 years doubled their use of type 2 diabetes medications between 2002 and 2005, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. The rise in diabetes prescriptions was driven by huge increases in use of those medications by preteen and teen girls; the number of prescriptions filled for girls aged 10–14 years grew by 166%, while the number filled for girls aged 15–19 years rose by 135%, according to the researchers. They also found increases in prescriptions for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, attention-deficit disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, asthma, and depression.
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