Human Growth Hormone

Corbis

A three-dimensional computer model of a human growth hormone. The FDA had previously approved a drug for children deficient in human growth hormone. Now, the FDA says the drug Humatrope is safe for healthy, short children, too.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug intended to make healthy, short children taller. The drug -- growth hormone -- has long been used to boost the height of children who are small due to medical problems. Critics charge that giving the drug to healthy children is unwise. NPR offers a three-part report.

Part One, Aug. 12: Kids being teased on the playground for being short have a new option -- and it comes in a syringe. NPR's Vicky Que reports on the debate surrounding the use of medical growth hormone on healthy, short children.

Part Two, Aug. 13: Que explores the medical issues of treating healthy kids with growth hormones. A mother of a teenager explains why she decided to have her son treated with the growth hormone. Critics say being short is not a medical problem and that this is just a way for drug companies to make money.

Part Three, Aug. 14: NPR's Snigdha Prakash explores the cultural, scientific and business forces that are driving the use of growth hormone among healthy children who happen to be short.