ADHD and Weight

Does having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as a child increase the risk of obesity later in life? That was the question posed by an international team of researchers. They collected data from 207 boys, 8 to 12 years old, who were diagnosed with ADHD. 178 boys without the condition were recruited for comparison. The majority of the participants were then tracked for more than 30 years with follow-up exams conducted at the mean ages of 18, 25 and 41. The results? Men with childhood ADHD had significantly higher body mass index compared to those without the condition, an average 30.1 versus 27.6. Obesity rates were also higher in men with childhood ADHD 41.4% versus 21.6% for the control group. Why the connection? The researchers say men with ADHD may lack impulse control and good planning skills, which could lead them to make poor food choices. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/videos/news/ADHD_Obese_052013-1.html