Weight loss drug usage increases nearly 600% in young people: Study
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — It has become one of the hottest drugs on the market; however, a study has shown medication like Ozempic, have seen a sharp increase in usage among children.
A newly released study discovered there’s been an increase of nearly 600% of usage in children between 12 and 17 years old.
The study also found female usage of these medications increased at a higher rate when compared to male young adults.
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“These medications are used for Type 2 diabetes, but I do think these medications, and the uptick, were used for weight loss,” explained Dr. Joyce Lee.
Lee contributed to the study, and said they’ve only been able to scratch the surface due to how recent these drugs have been on the market for young adults.
“If people take this for years on end, we have to look at what those are,” she explained. “In five years, in six years, in 10 years, we have to think about what those side effects are going to be.”
Her research also discovered that the top prescribers of these medications were family medicine physicians, endocrinologists, and nurse practitioners.
Given this, more discussions need to be had on education methods given the age of these children, specifically for the female patients.
“Those individuals are of reproductive age, and these medications are actually contraindicated in pregnancy,” Lee said.
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