A latest study shows that children sufferng from ADHD are at greater risk of obesity in their teens.
For the study, the researchers examined nearly 7,000 children in Finland to find out whether ADHD symptoms at age eight were linked to increased chances of being obese by age 16.
The researchers interviewed parents and teachers of these children to assess their ADHD symptoms and conduct disorder symptoms at ages eight and 16.
The authors explained that 2 to 5 percent of school-aged children and young people in the United Kingdom had ADHD. But, in the U.S. the condition affected 6.4 million children aged between 4 and 17. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, boys are the common victims of ADHD.
The study results showed that approximately 9 percent of children who had positive results for ADHD had more chances of becoming obese by the age 16.
"Obesity is a growing problem that we need to watch out for in all children and young people, but these findings suggest that it's particularly important for children with ADHD," said Alina Rodriguez from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, in a press release.
"It appears that lack of physical activity might be a key factor. We think encouraging children with ADHD to be more physically active could improve their behaviour problems as well as helping them to stay a healthy weight, and studies should be carried out to test this theory."
However, the researchers clarified that overeating was not a factor for obesity risk in these children.
The study was published in the 'Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.'
