ADHD treatment linked to increased obesity risk

Past research has suggested that children with ADHD are at higher risk of obesity than those without the disorder. Now, new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD, suggests that this increased risk may be a result of ADHD treatment, rather that the disorder itself.

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is one of the most common childhood psychiatric disorders worldwide. There is no cure for the disorder, but stimulant medication is commonly used to help manage symptoms.

In recent years, studies have suggested there may be a link between ADHD and obesity. Last year, Medical News Today reported on a study revealing that males who have ADHD during childhood may be more likely to have a greater body mass index (BMI) in adulthood.

Such research has indicated that characteristics linked to ADHD, such as poor impulse control, can cause children with the disorder to develop poor eating habits that lead to weight gain.

But the researchers of this most recent study say that until now, no longitudinal studies have examined the association between stimulant medication for the treatment of ADHD and weight gain.

With this in mind, the team assessed whether stimulant use for the treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD had any impact on BMI. To do this, they used electronic health record data from the Gesinger Health System involving 163,820 children aged 3 to 18 years.

Stimulant use 'leads to rapid BMI growth later in adolescence'