Our country still has a huge problem with being overweight. Now a medication prescribed for young children might be a cause of obesity. Almost 30% of adolescents as well as children who took common drugs for anti-psychotic disorders for the first time in countered on natural weight games and became obese in as little as three months. Attention turned to the possible risk for diabetes and heart disease in these children

Scientists found that the doctors who give these anti-psychotic drugs to children should closely examine the potential benefits against the harmful risk to the child. The doctor should keep a close watch on the children taking these drugs.

The findings of several reports cautioned doctors and emphasized the long term harm that these anti-psychotic drugs could potentially cause to children. Doctors caution against prescribing these anti-psychotic drugs until a final diagnosis of a psychotic or bipolar disorder is confirmed.

This study examined the for most used anti-psychotic drugs in children. Risperadal. Manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, Zyprexa manufactured by Eli Lily, Abilify, manufactured by Bristol Myers Squibb, and Seroquel manufactured by AstraZeneca.

A research team comprised of doctors from Zucker Hillside Hospital and Feinstein Institute for medical research, in New York examined almost 300 teens and children between the ages of four and 19 that suffered complications from schizophrenia aggressive or disruptive behavior spectrum disorder as well as bipolar disorder.

After almost 3 months the children who purchase a paid it in the study that took zyprexa in countered a weight gain on the average of 18 pounds, those children that took seroquel gained almost 14 pounds, those children given risperadal gained about 11 pounds and those given abilify gained a little over 9 pounds. As a whole 10 to 36% of the children became obese in under three months. Doctors noted that the weight gain is rapid and dramatic but added that not all of the droves cause the same side effect.

Currently a large number of members on the panel expressed concern regarding the increasing sales of the drugs to young people and the lack of in-depth long-term research concerning safety. Members of the panel were specifically worried about the possibility that the drugs might be used incorrectly to treat other conditions.

At present there are two atypical anti-psychotics that are approved to use with children and those areabilify and risperadal. Although in June and FD a group of experts supported the broader use of seroquel, zyprexa and Pfizer’s geodon for children and young adults. And other health agencies in the United States to assist in studying the long-term affects these anti-psychotic medications have when prescribed to kids.

Zyprexa is Lilly’s number one selling medication, with sales almost $5 billion last year. Seroquel is number two for AstraZeneca and at the bringing in a little over 4 1/2 billion dollars in 2008.

Parents should remember that it’s always the best advice to consult with your doctor about any disorder your child may have and find out what is the best treatment, and at the same time keeping in mind the effects of any medication on the long-term.