| Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is | | | | and overweight and obesity in the US population. |
| associated with over weight and obesity. This | | | | Cross-sectional data from the Collaborative |
| relationship has been established in the scientific | | | | Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys were used. |
| literature yet not well understood. We see from | | | | Participants were 6,735 US residents (63.9% |
| the studies below that children and adults with | | | | white; 51.6% female) aged 18-44 years. A |
| ADHD are more likely to be overweight when not | | | | retrospective assessment of childhood ADHD and |
| medicated. We also see that ADHD children | | | | a self-report assessment of adult ADHD were |
| who are medicated are more likely to be | | | | administered. Diagnosis was defined by three |
| underweight. This is expected as the most | | | | categories: never met diagnostic criteria, met full |
| common medication for ADHD is methylphenidate | | | | childhood criteria with no current symptoms, and |
| a drug knows to have side effects indicated | | | | met full childhood criteria with current symptoms. |
| decrease appetite and weight loss. So much so | | | | The prevalence of overweight and obesity was |
| that methylphenidate has potential and reputation | | | | 33.9 and 29.4%, respectively, among adults with |
| for abuse. Here are two recent studies | | | | ADHD, and 28.8 and 21.6%, respectively, among |
| regarding to the relationship between ADHD and | | | | persons with no history of ADHD. Adult ADHD |
| weight. | | | | was associated with greater likelihood of |
| Department of Community Health, Brown Medical | | | | overweight, (odds ratio (OR) = 1.58; 95% |
| School, Box G-S121, Providence, RI 02912, USA. | | | | confidence interval (CI) = 1.05, 2.38) and obesity |
| OBJECTIVE: As the prevalence of childhood | | | | (OR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.14, 2.64). Results were |
| obesity increases, identifying groups of children | | | | similar when adjusting for demographic |
| who are at increased risk of overweight is | | | | characteristics and depression. Mediation analyses |
| important. The current study estimated the | | | | suggest that binge eating disorder (BED), but not |
| prevalence of overweight in children and | | | | depression, partially mediates the associations |
| adolescents in relation to attention-deficit | | | | between ADHD and both overweight and obesity. |
| hyperactivity disorder and medication use. | | | | Results suggest that adult ADHD is associated |
| PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a | | | | with overweight and obesity. Obesity (2008) |
| cross-sectional analysis of 62 887 children and | | | | doi:10.1038/oby.2008.587. |
| adolescents aged 5 to 17 years from the | | | | The question remains: Does having ADHD |
| 2003-2004 National Survey of Children's Health, a | | | | predispose you to being overweight or does being |
| nationally representative sample of children and | | | | overweight predisposed you to ADHD? Our |
| adolescents in the United States. Attention-deficit | | | | model proposes that it is the thing associated with |
| disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder | | | | being overweight predisposes you to ADHD. |
| was determined by response to the question "Has | | | | That is modern society’s lack of exercise and |
| a doctor or health professional ever told you that | | | | increase screen time (T.V., video games, |
| your child has attention-deficit disorder or | | | | internet). If we look at the last 2 decades when |
| attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder, that is, ADD | | | | Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Autism |
| or ADHD?" Children and adolescents were | | | | Spectrum Disorder have increase drastically we |
| classified as underweight, normal weight, at risk of | | | | find that during this time in western cultures, fast |
| overweight, or overweight according to BMI for | | | | food, video games and computers also have |
| age and gender. RESULTS: After adjustment for | | | | increased. Our model proposes that it is the lack |
| age, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, | | | | of exercise (kids playing video games instead of |
| and depression/anxiety, children and adolescents | | | | being outside playing) which disturbs motor |
| with attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit | | | | development as well as input from the postural |
| hyperactivity disorder not currently using | | | | and antigravity muscles to the brain which is a |
| medication had approximately 1.5 times the odds | | | | factor in the under connectivity and functional |
| of being overweight, and children and adolescents | | | | disconnect syndrome associated with ADHD and |
| currently medicated for attention-deficit disorder | | | | ASD. |
| attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder had | | | | At a recent lecture I attended regarding childhood |
| approximately 1.6 times the odds of being | | | | neurobehavioral disorders a clever cartoon was |
| underweight compared with children and | | | | put up on the screen to make a point. The |
| adolescents without either diagnosis. | | | | cartoon showed an overweight boy drinking a |
| CONCLUSIONS: This study provides heightened | | | | coke and eating a bag of chips while sitting in a |
| awareness for pediatric providers about the | | | | chair playing a video game. This child’s |
| relationship between attention-deficit disorder | | | | mother tells the child that it’s time to take his |
| attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, medication | | | | medication. The boy’s response “not |
| use, and weight status. Future work is needed to | | | | now Mom I’m playing football.” Exercise |
| better understand the longitudinal and | | | | has been shown to not only reduce weight and |
| pharmacologic factors that influence the | | | | improve health but also improve cognitive |
| relationship between attention-deficit disorder | | | | function. |
| attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and weight | | | | This is not to say that enrolling the child in soccer |
| status in children and adolescents. | | | | is going to be the magic pill that solves |
| 1Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, | | | | everything. It is simply a suggestion that in a |
| Department of Medicine, University of | | | | condition with many associated possible causes |
| Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, | | | | this may be a contributing factor or at least an |
| Massachusetts, USA. | | | | aggravator. Let’s face it these kids are |
| Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is | | | | picky eaters and at times letting them play video |
| a neurobehavioral disorder that affects ~2.9-4.7% | | | | games is the only thing that calms them down |
| of US adults. Studies have revealed high rates of | | | | and helps mom and dad not pull their hair out. |
| ADHD (26-61%) in patients seeking weight loss | | | | But it seems at times as if they may be locked |
| treatment suggesting an association between | | | | into things that can hurt them long term and all of |
| ADHD and obesity. The objective of the present | | | | us involved with these children need to be aware. |
| study was to test the association between ADHD | | | | |