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, PhD

Department 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.

Children in the UK with a rare gene fault can get statins, but the American Academy of Pediatrics is going further.

It wants to see the drugs used in thousands more children with high cholesterol levels, despite little information about long-term safety.

A UK specialist said he did not support widespread statin use for children.

High cholesterol levels in childhood are thought to be a possible factor in the development of heart disease later in life.

Approximately one in 500 children carries the “familial hypercholesterolaemia” gene, which gives them a 50% chance of heart disease, often early in life, and two types of statin are already licensed for use in the UK in these children.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is expected to back this type of treatment in guidance due out next month.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, however, believes that the drugs, which are used by millions of adults worldwide, could benefit thousands more children who are already obese, or showing signs of high blood pressure or type II diabetes.

It wants all children with these problems, or with a family history of heart disease, to be screened for high cholesterol, and statins considered for those with particularly high levels from age eight onwards.

The recommendation has proved controversial in the US, with some doctors concerned that pills were no substitute for a better diet and more exercise.

Safety question

In the UK, one specialist who recommends the use of statins in children carrying the gene said he would not support any extension of that policy.

Professor Andrew Neil, from the University of Oxford, said that while the safety of statins in adults was “well established”, there was far less information about this in children, who might expect to use them for very long periods.

He said: “While I fully support the use of statins in children with familial hypercholesterolaemia, it is not my view that they should be used in the myriad of children with simple obesity or moderately elevated cholesterol.”

A spokesman for the British Heart Foundation said that no-one, child or adult, should be relying entirely on statins to improve their health, in the absence of improved diet and more exercise.

• Family members
• Friends
• Co-workers
• Church or congregation members
• Your physician
• Your pharmacist
• Neighbors

You can also check online physician directories to find out information, addresses and phone numbers of pediatricians.

Be sure to make a list of questions to ask a potential new pediatrician that are important to you.

Some important factors to consider when looking for a new pediatrician might be:

• The location of the pediatrician’s office
• Availability of appointment times and office hours
• After hours emergency care
• Is the pediatrician a member of a state or national pediatric society?

Take your time and write down what is important to you. You also might have to visit several pediatricians before you find one that you are comfortable with, but there is nothing wrong with that.

Recognized pediatric specialties and their definitions include the following, which may help you find the correct pediatrician for your particular need:

SPECIALTIES HERE

Finding a good pediatrician that you like is important.

It is OK to change pediatricians if you are not happy with your current one.