Sex and racial/ethnic differences in the association between childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom subtypes and body mass index in the transition from adolescence to adulthood in the United States.

Abstract

While attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with higher body mass index (BMI), little research has focused on how this association differs by sex or race/ethnicity. To investigate the association between ADHD and BMI by sex and race/ethnicity (ie, European [EA], African [AA], and Hispanic American [HA]). Data came from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health Waves II to IV (n=13332, age: 12-34years). On the basis of self-reported childhood ADHD symptoms between the ages of 5 and 12years, participants were categorized into: ADHD predominantly hyperactive/impulsive (ADHD-HI); ADHD predominantly inattentive (ADHD-I); ADHD combined (ADHD-C; a combination of ADHD-HI and ADHD-I symptoms); and non-ADHD. The patterns of ADHD-BMI associations in the transition period between adolescence and young adulthood differed by sex and race/ethnicity. Compared with non-ADHD, ADHD-HI was associated with higher BMI among EA males and females, while ADHD-I was associated with higher BMI among EA females. ADHD-C was associated with higher BMI for HA females. We found no evidence of an association among AA males and females and HA males. These study results suggest that the association between ADHD subtypes and BMI might differ across population subgroups in the United States.