Disruptive eating behavior and obesity in drug naïve children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Objective: In recent studies, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was found to be linked with disruptive eating behavior and obesity. However, more studies needed to assess this relationship in pediatric age group. Therefore, eating behavior, dietary habits and obesity prevalence were evaluated in children who were newly diag-nosed with ADHD. Methods: Eighty-six children with ADHD between the ages of 6 and 9 without medical treatment and chronic medical disease were included in the study group. 86 age and sex matched children without chronic medical and psychiatric disease were obtained as the control group. Sociodemographic Data Form, Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ), the Turgay DSM-IV Based Disruptive Behavior Disorders Child and Adolescent Rating and Screening Scale (T-DSM-IV-S) and Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children were applied to all cases. Weight and height of all cases were measured. Weight and height z scores, body mass index percentiles were calculated. Results: CEBQ desire to drink subscale scores were found significantly higher in ADHD group than controls. CEBQ food responsiveness, emotional overeating and desire to drink subscale scores were found as positively correlated with T-DSM-IV-S ADHD total scores in ADHD group. It was found that children with ADHD eat more often, prefer to consume less water than controls. Higher rates of obesity and overweight, lower rates of underweight were found statistically significant in ADHD group. Discussion: Our findings provide evidence that children who are newly diagnosed with ADHD could have impaired eating behaviors, high rates of obesity and overweight. Therefore, it is important to evaluate growth measures and dietary habits in this population.