Antibiotics are considered as a life saving drug, but continuous usage of it may affect the weight of a child permanently, according to a new study. The study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore showed that children at the age of 15 who took antibiotics, seven times when they were younger, weighs more than three pounds than those who don't.
Researchers analyse the data from 164,000 respondents and found that 21 percent of the youngsters who took seven or more antibiotics during their early age has an apparent linked to weight gain. However the weight gain phenomenon was taken lightly due to the lack of data for research. The conducted study only shows a correlation of weight gain and antibiotic intake not the cause and effect relationship.
The research shows that children who took antibiotics grow faster than those who didn't. However, the research lacks plausible evidences to support the theory. They also stated that the problem is not only limited to children but can also be developed in the much older populous. "Antibiotics at any age contribute to weight gain," Brian Schwartz, lead author of the study and a physician and epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said.
Antibiotics are one of the most in demand drugs in the world. Infants, children, teenagers, adults and even older people need it. And the positive effects of the use of antibiotics are quite notable in the medical arena. However, in the past year, the prescription of antibiotics has gone down to children and remains constant in adults. It is a bit alarming that the use of this drug has gone up for the older population.
According to Dr. Schwartz, with the data they have accumulated from their research on antibiotics that includes respondents aging 3 to 18 shows that the effects of weight gain is continuous, even after the subject passed 18. He also concluded that the effects are permanent.
