Prevalence and Correlates of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a Diverse, Treatment-Seeking Pediatric Overweight/Obesity Sample.
Brittany M Merrill, Anne S Morrow, Dustin Sarver and 2 others
PMID 34397571WHAT IT FOUND
In treatment-seeking youth with obesity, ADHD was linked to fewer active days and more meals per day, but not consistently to higher BMI.
Rurality predicted higher BMI. Stimulant medication was associated with even lower physical activity.
Key findings
01Parent-reported ADHD was associated with significantly fewer active days per week and more meals per day compared to youth without ADHD.
02Among youth taking stimulants for ADHD, physical activity was significantly lower than in those not taking ADHD medication.
03ADHD status was not significantly related to BMI overall, though a positive association existed only within the 'other racial minority' group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that ADHD or medication causes the observed lifestyle differences. ADHD diagnosis and medication use were based on parent report and medical charts, not direct clinical assessment or verification of adherence. The sample was highly homogeneous in terms of weight status (98.6% with obesity), which restricts the ability to detect associations with BMI due to a ceiling effect. The study was conducted in a single southeastern US clinic, limiting generalizability to other regions or populations.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by NIH grants.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume stimulant medication improves physical activity or weight outcomes in youth with obesity. This study found that among those with ADHD, stimulant use was associated with significantly fewer active days per week, and had no relationship with BMI.