Researchers find link between ADHD and eating disorders

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, has been considered a growing problem in America for the last several years. As more and more children are diagnosed with this disorder, questions have arisen as to how much of an effect it has on each child’s life. ADHD has a variety of symptoms in common with other disorders, such as bipolar disorder, and ADHD is often co-occurring with depression and anxiety.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is characterized by difficulty paying close attention to details, trouble keeping focus on a task or activity until completed, issues listening, difficulty following directions, and organizational problems, among other symptoms. Children with ADHD also often have hyperactivity issues, including overwhelming difficulty standing still and extreme fidgeting. ADHD can cause behavioral problems and make it difficult for children to function in social or academic settings.

Eating disorders also tend to co-occur with other emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression. Recent research shows that ADHD and eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia may be linked.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School wanted to see if there was an association between eating disorders and ADHD. Using the Cox proportional hazard survival models, they estimated the incidence of eating disorders in a sample of both girls with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and a control group without the ADHD diagnosis.

Results showed that girls with ADHD were 3.6 times more likely than girls without ADHD to develop eating disorders. Also, girls with both ADHD and an eating disorder were more likely than girls who only had ADHD to experience depression, anxiety, and disruptive behavior disorder.

They concluded that ADHD increases the risk of developing an eating disorder significantly.

This research could have an influence on the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in young girls. Because these girls are so much more likely to develop an eating disorder, it may be essential that girls with ADHD be screened regularly for eating disorders or unhealthy eating attitudes.

With eating disorders, prevention is often much more effective than treatment after the fact. If ADHD is a risk factor for an eating disorder, doctors have one more tool for detecting and preventing eating disorders early, making recovery much more likely.

© Copyright 2007 Insight Journal Online Magazine.

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