Are obesity and attention deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) disorder linked in children? A new study suggests that children with ADHD have a higher risk of becoming obese in adolescence. Previous reports have linked ADHD and obesity, though the relationship between behavioral control and extra weight has not been clear. The report showed that children with ADHD were not more likely to participate in physical activity than those without the disorder, and they are often less active as they get older. About five percent of U.S. kids have ADHD, which is usually characterized by having trouble paying attention and poor impulse control. The condition is most often treated by medication and behavioral therapies. In the new study, almost 7,000 Finnish children born in 1986 were identified by teachers as having ADHD symptoms, conduct disorder, or a psychological disorder involving antisocial behavior. Parents reported the children’s height, weight, and activity and when the kids were 16, the researchers followed up with parents to ask about their ADHD symptoms. The teens were asked about their physical activity and eating behaviors. The researchers also obtained information on the young peoples height, weight and waist size from doctors examinations. Those children who were reported as having ADHD symptoms at a young age were twice as likely to be obese teens. The results were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 03:07:33 +0000
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