Obesity distribution characteristics of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Objective To investigate the distribution characteristics between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) and obesity. Methods Two hundred and thirty-nine children diagnosed as ADHD meeting the ADHD criteria of DSM-Ⅳ and 137 healthy children were enrolled in ADHD group and healthy control group, respectively.Anthropometric measurement and nutritional assessment were performed for the 2 groups.The incidences of overweight and obesity among each group were compared. Results There was significant difference in the incidence of overweight+ obesity between ADHD group and healthy control group[98 cases(41.0%) vs 39 cases(28.5%)]; No significant difference in the incidence of overweight was observed between ADHD group and healthy control group[41 cases(17.2%) vs 22 cases(16.1%), P>0.05]. The incidence of ADHD in overweight+ obesity group was significantly higher than that in healthy control group.The incidence of obesity in ADHD group was significantly higher than that in healthy control group[57 cases(23.8%) vs 17 cases(12.4%), P 0.05). The incidence of ADHD in the overweight+ obesity group was significanthy than that in normal weight group(P<0.05). Conclusion Obesity is a risk factor of ADHD, and their pathogenesis may be overlapping. Key words: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; Obesity; Distribution characteristics