Myomancy ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism

An Israeli study, Childhood obesity and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A newly described comorbidity in obese hospitalized children, found that over half of a sample of obese children had ADHD. Of which, half of these had not been diagnosed previously. This unusually large correlation has several possible explanation. It may be that excessive eating is a psychological response to the stresses of being ADHD. The effects of ADHD make the child unhappy so to cheer themselves up they eat something. This could form a viscous circle where the twin effect of ADHD and weight problems, both of which can set children apart from other children, leads to further eating as a mood enhancer. A second possibility is simple lack of control. When the child has an opportunity to eat, especially sweets and pop (soda), they react impulsively and eat.

A third possibility is that cause of the obesity and ADHD are same, i.e. their diet. To be obese in childhood requires a huge calorie intake, the sort provide by pop (soda) drinks. (See: Soda, Obesity Research Signals Need for Kids’ Low-Sugar Drink Alternatives). These drinks are high in calories leading to weight gain but the stimulation or energy the child gains from the calories can lead to problems concentrating. In addition to all the sugar there is the caffeine and various artificial additives, so it is not hard to imagine a link between junk food and ADHD.
In addition to these possible explanations social class needs to be considered. Obesity is strongly linked to lower income families and these families may be more likely to have children with ADHD. The role of parenting cannot be ignore either. A parent who allows their child to eat whatever and whenever they like may have a parenting style that encourages the lack of control and attention characteristic of ADHD.

See Parenting and ADHD.

Further coverage and comments from the researchers on WNEP.com.