Associations among overeating, overweight, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a structural equation modelling approach.
BACKGROUND
Some recent studies have reported strong links between obesity and ADHD in adults; however, to date, little work has focussed on possible behavioural mechanisms that could account for this association.


METHODS
This study used structural equation modelling (SEM) in a sample of healthy adult women to test the predictions that ADHD symptoms predict aspects of overeating, including binge eating and emotionally-induced eating, which in turn are positively correlated with Body Mass Index.


RESULTS
The SEM produced a non-significant chi-square and both the measurement model and the structural model fit the data very well.


CONCLUSIONS
Plausible mechanisms are discussed to help explain how the symptomatology of ADHD could foster different forms of overeating.
Davis
Caroline
C
Departments of Kinesiology and Health Science and Psychology, Bethune College, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3. cdavis@yorku.ca
Levitan
Robert D
RD
Smith
Megan
M
Tweed
Stacey
S
Curtis
Claire
C
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight; D012016:Reference Values; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology; D013223:Statistics as Topic