Antipsychotics and weight gain in children

In the U.S. antipsychotic drugs are often prescribed for children and adolescents. However, new research from the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in New York suggests that they may - as they do in adults - lead to weight gain making more children overweight and obese and raising their risk for diabetes and heart disease. The study looked at 272 children between the ages of 4 and 19 who were followed for 11 weeks. Those taking Zyprexa gained an average of 18.7 lbs, those taking Seroquel gained 13.4 lbs, those on Risperdal gained 11.7 lbs and those on Abilify gained 9.7 lbs. Up to a third of the children became overweight or obese over the course of the 11-week study.

You can find out more about this research at

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE59Q4Q920091027?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0