Overweight in children and adolescents in relation to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: results from a national sample.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
As the prevalence of childhood obesity increases, identifying groups of children who are at increased risk of overweight is important. The current study estimated the prevalence of overweight in children and adolescents in relation to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and medication use.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:
This study was a cross-sectional analysis of 62 887 children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years from the 2003-2004 National Survey of Children's Health, a nationally representative sample of children and adolescents in the United States. Attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was determined by response to the question "Has a doctor or health professional ever told you that your child has attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder, that is, ADD or ADHD?" Children and adolescents were classified as underweight, normal weight, at risk of overweight, or overweight according to BMI for age and gender.

RESULTS:
After adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and depression/anxiety, children and adolescents with attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder not currently using medication had approximately 1.5 times the odds of being overweight, and children and adolescents currently medicated for attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder had approximately 1.6 times the odds of being underweight compared with children and adolescents without either diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides heightened awareness for pediatric providers about the relationship between attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, medication use, and weight status. Future work is needed to better understand the longitudinal and pharmacologic factors that influence the relationship between attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and weight status in children and adolescents.

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Author information

Author/s: Waring, Molly E (ME); Lapane, Kate L (KL);

Affiliation: Department of Community Health, Brown Medical School, Box G-S121, Providence, RI 02912, USA. molly_waring(-atsign-)brown.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Pediatrics (Pediatrics), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 122 (issue 1) : pp e1-6

Dates: Created 2008/07/03; Completed 2008/07/31; Revised 2008/10/21;

PMID: 18595954, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Pediatrics. 2008 Oct;122(4):910; author reply 910. (PMID: 18829824)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy; epidemiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Comorbidity
Female

Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Overweight - epidemiology
Prevalence
United States - epidemiology

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