The number of children who take medication for chronic diseases has jumped dramatically, in yet another sign that many of the youngest Americans are struggling with obesity.
The number of children who take pills for type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity, more than doubled between 2002 and 2005. At least 23,000 privately insured children in the USA are now taking diabetes medications.
There were also big increases in prescriptions for high cholesterol, asthma and attention deficit and hyperactivity. There was smaller growth for drugs for depression and high blood pressure.
Type 2 diabetes was once known as adult-onset. But children as young as 5 are now being treated for the illness.