Growth hormones are a very controversial topic in today's society. Hormones bring with them very powerful results. This in many cases is an advantage for its users. Studies have shown that growth hormones can help short children. Around 1990, growth hormones became a common solution for children who were failing to mature beyond the normal growth curve. During these years growth hormones were not approved for adults unless they were severely impaired by disease, trauma, or cancer. It would be another six years before the FDA approved it for adult use. Scientists observed growth of between 1.5 and 2.8 inches in children who used the hormones faithfully for four years. This added growth benefit brings children a variety of areas. First, they often experience improved health outcomes, and second, the additional growth also appears to increase most children's self-esteem. There are several negative aspects associated with growth hormones, chief among them the high cost. The annual average for a supply of growth hormone medications ranges from $10,000 to $25,000. This means that only extremely wealthy people are able to help their children receive the latest treatments. Insurance companies rarely pay anything to clients who receive hGH. The second downside to growth hormones is that they are often overused. This abuse often comes from professional athletes who are trying to gain size and the additional leanness that comes with hormone use. The dangers of growth hormones are often ignored by athletes looking to gain a competitive advantage over their peers. Third, hGH is only available by prescription and is therefore often taken illegally. The concept of growth is quite complex. It is the progressive development or increase in size of a particular living organism. Growth hormone also called somatotropin is synthesized and secreted by cells called somatotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland. Growth hormones have direct and indirect effects. The direct effect of growth hormones is that they build receptors on target cells. The target cells are usually fat (adiposity) cells that have growth hormone receptors. Growth hormones stimulate these fat cells to break down triglycerides and also decrease their ability to collect circulating lipids. The indirect effects of growth hormones Growth hormones are hormones considered protein hormones.