Study: Childhood ADHD increases risk of adulthood obesity

By Staff Writer

A recent study reveals that symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during childhood are linked with an increased risk of obesity as an adult.

Researchers from Duke University Medical Center compared the common symptoms of ADHD - such as inattention and impulsiveness - with body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure. More than 15,000 adolescents were monitored in the study from 1995 to 2009, according to HealthCanal.com.

Medical experts discovered that having three or more symptoms of ADHD significantly increased the individual's odds of becoming obese in adulthood. Hyperactivity and impulsiveness were the most prevalent characteristics found in adolescents who became overweight, researchers say.

One of the researchers said that people who are most vulnerable to obesity may battle self-regulation controls at an early age. The director of the Duke ADHD program said that the study establishes a path for identifying potential obesity problems early in a child's life, thus allowing more time for intervention.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that diagnosis of ADHD increased by an average of 3 percent per year from 1997 to 2006.