Obesity in ADHD Kids

A new study examines the risk for children with ADHD to be either overweight or underweight.

A new study has found that children with ADHD who are not taking medication are one-and-a-half times more likely to be overweight than peers without the disorder.

Impulsivity and poor behavioral regulation may lead many of these kids to develop eating patterns that put them at risk for obesity. Researchers also speculate that children whose ADHD goes untreated may spend more time watching TV or playing computer or video games.

The study, which used data from the National Survey of Children’s Health on more than 62,000 children ages five to 17 years old, also determined that ADHD kids who were taking medication were more likely to be underweight, a finding that researchers expected, since weight loss and reduced appetite are side effects of the stimulant meds typically used to treat the condition.

To read more about the study, which is published in the July 2008 Pediatrics, go to the Pediatrics website.

—as reported in the Fall 2008 issue of ADDitude