The use of weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic has climbed among children in the United States, according to a study released Wednesday.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, revealed that the use of weight-loss drugs has risen in people aged 12 to 25, according to the Associated Press.

The study examined data from 2020 to 2023 from the IQVIA prescription database and found that about 31,000 children aged 12 to 17 used weight-loss drugs in 2023 alone. About 162,000 adults aged 18 to 25 also used the drugs in 2023.

“What it’s suggesting is that it’s one of the tools in the toolbox and there are more providers prescribing this medication for the population,” Joyce Lee, a University of Michigan pediatrician and diabetes expert, told the outlet.

The number of children using weight-loss drugs climbed dramatically between 2020 and 2023, according to the report, going from 8,700 a month to more than 60,000, almost a seven-fold increase.

In 2023, more than 6,000 children received the weight-loss drug Wegovy, and more than 7,600 received Ozempic, a sought-after drug in the wake of more and more celebrities turning to it. A lineup of celebrities who have either disclosed their use of the drug or hailed its weight-dropping properties includes Khloe Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, and Elon Musk.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Medicaid plans paid for nearly half of the drugs given to 12- to 17-year-olds, according to the report.

The report also noted that while some who use the drugs show no symptoms, side effects commonly include nausea, vomiting, or constipation, some of which can be so serious that the patients stop using the drugs.