ADHD increases chances of eating disorder in children, says research

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Researchers from Johns Hopkins Children's Centre have found that children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have a higher possibility of having Loss Of Control Eating Syndrome (LOC-ES).

Although the children with ADHD lose weight because of stimulant drugs, the disorder is usually associated with obesity, study leader Shauna P Reinblatt, assistant professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said.

The obesity in children with ADHD is being attributed to a link between the hallmark impulsivity of ADHD and loss of control over appetite and food consumption.

The study included 79 children between the ages of 8 to 14 from Baltimore area. Researchers based their relation between ADHD and LOC-ES on interviews, parental reports and objective measures. The children also underwent neuropsychological testing to measure how well they were able to control their impulses.

The study found that the chances of LOC-ES in children suffering from ADHD were increased 12 times as compared to those without ADHD. On the other hand, children suffering from LOC-ES were at a risk of having ADHD 7 times higher than others.

It was also found that the children with ADHD suffering from LOC-ES have a more severe form of ADHD streaked by more impulsive behavior that particularly manifests in their eating patterns, Dr. Reinblatt said.