ADHD Linked to Weight Changes in Children

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry suggests that children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to have lower birth weights but are more likely to become obese after the age of 5. Analyzing data from over 7,900 children, researchers found that those with ADHD face a heightened risk of obesity, especially girls after age 7 and boys after age 11, impacting their long-term health.

Researchers in the U.K. noted that lower birth weights in children with ADHD can increase the likelihood of developmental delays and other health challenges. However, as they grow older, these children are more likely to develop obesity, which can add further health risks as they approach adulthood.

''Children with increased ADHD symptoms are generally lighter at birth than their peers but face a greater likelihood of obesity later'', said researcher Claire Reed from the University of Southampton. Despite this pattern, little research has been done to pinpoint when and why these changes in weight occur.

For the study, researchers examined over 7,900 children born between 2000 and 2002, comparing 442 children with ADHD to nearly 5,400 without an ADHD diagnosis or symptoms. They found that while kids with ADHD weighed less at birth, this difference disappeared by the age of 9 months and at 3 years.

From age 5 onwards, children with ADHD showed a significantly higher likelihood of obesity. This pattern was especially evident in girls after age 7 and boys after age 11, and it became more pronounced with higher levels of ADHD symptoms.

The study also suggests a possible link between ADHD symptoms and obesity starting around ages 3 to 5, although the reasons remain unclear. Impulsivity, which is common in ADHD, may lead children to make less healthy food choices, researchers speculated.

Source: American Psychiatric Association, November 5, 2024.