What is the link between ADHD and child obesity?
Today, all parents have an increased awareness of the epidemic that is child obesity. Do parents of an ADD / ADHD child need to have special concern?
With the health risks involved with childhood obesity, identifying children who have an increased likelihood of being overweight has become more and more important. Children diagnosed with ADHD may be one such risk group.
Research published in the July 2008 issue of Pediatrics finds that children and adolescents with ADD/ADHD who do not currently take medications are at increased risk for being overweight.
Data on almost 63,000 children and adolescents, age 5 to 17, was collected. Subjects were classified as underweight, normal weight, at risk of overweight, or overweight according to BMI for age and gender.
Researchers, Molly E. Waring and Kate L. Lapane from the Department of Community Health at Brown Medical School in Providence, RI, found that ADHD children not currently using medication were at 1.5 times the risk of being overweight than non-ADHD children. On the other hand, those taking medication for ADHD had 1.6 times more risk of being underweight compared to children without ADHD.
"In light of these findings, children and adolescents with ADD/ADHD should be monitored for overweight and underweight/weight loss. By monitoring weight status of these youths, clinicians will be better prepared to prevent the development of childhood obesity and the negative physical health and psychosocial consequences," Waring and Lapane concluded.
The Bottom Line
Though there appears to be an association between obesity and ADHD, whether it is a cause-and-effect link is unclear. Either way, this study’s findings reinforce the importance of increasing parents’ (especially those with ADHD children) awareness and education about the importance of a healthy, well balanced diet. This is one major way to help prevent childhood weight problems, as is encouraging regular exercise through physical outdoor play.
Sources:
Molly E. Waring, MA and Kate L. Lapane, PhD. Overweight in Children and Adolescents in Relation to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Results From a National Sample. Pediatrics. Vol. 122 No. 1 July 2008.
Steven Reinberg. ADHD Might Raise Kids' Obesity Risk. HealthDay. July 7, 2008.
