Eating patterns and risk for overweight in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

Abstract

Children with ADHD may be at increased risk for overweight. Although meal skipping, frequent snacking, and excessive consumption of foods high in fat and sugar have been associated with both a tendency toward obesity and poor behavioral symptoms, the link between ADHD and excess weight is poorly understood. We examined BMI distribution and eating patterns in children with different types of ADHD: combined Inattentive/Hyperactivity (IH; n=13) vs. Inattentive (I; n=8). A retrospective chart review of children with ADHD treated at theBastyr Center for Natural Health from 2001–2006 and who completed a 3‐day diet diary was conducted. We found a non‐significant difference between the ADHD subtypes in BMI distribution (27% of IH vs 50% of I children were at risk for overweight). There were no significant differences between ADHD subtypes in dietary intake. However, a low variety of energy weak foods relative to energy dense foods was associated with a higher BMI percentile (r=−0.45 in all children and r=−0.76 in the I group; P=0.05). ADHD symptom severity was not associated with either BMI percentile or dietary intake. This study suggests there may be a relationship between BMI and ADHD subtype, which may be partially explained by dietary variety. Further research is needed to understand the obesity‐ADHD connection.Grant Funding Source: none