ADHD And Obesity Connection?
The latest research found children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at a 50 percent higher risk for being overweight if they are not taking medication for the condition.
On the flip side, the scientists found children who were taking ADHD medicine had a raised risk of being underweight.
In fact, the research showed those children with ADHD who were on medication had a 1.6 times greater risk of being underweight.
By knowing this, the hope is doctors and nurses can be better prepared to prevent the development of childhood obesity.
The report is published in the July issue of Pediatrics.
Overweight in Children and Adolescents in Relation to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Results From a National Sample
Molly E. Waring, MA and Kate L. Lapane, PhDDepartment of Community Health, Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island
OBJECTIVE. As the prevalence of childhood obesity increases, identifying groups of children who are at increased risk of overweight is important. The current study estimated the prevalence of overweight in children and adolescents in relation to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and medication use.
PATIENTS AND METHODS. This study was a cross-sectional analysis of 62 887 children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years from the 2003–2004 National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally representative sample of children and adolescents in the United States. Attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was determined by response to the question “Has a doctor or health professional ever told you that your child has attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder, that is, ADD or ADHD?” Children and adolescents were classified as underweight, normal weight, at risk of overweight, or overweight according to BMI for age and gender.
RESULTS. After adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and depression/anxiety, children and adolescents with attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder not currently using medication had ~1.5 times the odds of being overweight, and children and adolescents currently medicated for attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder had ~1.6 times the odds of being underweight compared with children and adolescents without either diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS. This study provides heightened awareness for pediatric providers about the relationship between attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, medication use, and weight status. Future work is needed to better understand the longitudinal and pharmacologic factors that influence the relationship between attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and weight status in children and adolescents.
However, some experts don’t find the ADHD-weight connection all that convincing.
Some feel because childhood obesity and ADHD are both widespread, it is to be expected that some ADHD children will be obese.
The data came from the 2003-2004 U.S. National Survey of Children’s Health.
The researchers found that children with ADHD who were not taking medication for the condition had a 1.5 times higher risk of being overweight, compared with children, who did not have ADHD.
August 25th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Prescription Detrol La…
The latest research found children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD are at a 50 pe [...]…