title: Overweight and basal metabolic rate in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: We investigated a possible association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and overweight by measuring weight status and energy expenditure (basal metabolic rate, BMR) in 39 ADHD-boys with hyperactivity (mixed hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive or predominantly hyperactive/impulsive) and 30 healthy boys. The age range for the total group was 8-14 years. Weight and height were measured by a calibrated scales and stadiometer. Body mass index standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS) were calculated. BMR was determined by indirect calorimetry. Significant differences were obtained between the ADHD- and the control-group, but not between ADHD-subgroups. Both BMI-SDS and BMR were higher in the group of ADHD-boys, whereby the differences were more marked when they were older. More overweight and obese subjects were found in the ADHD-sample. Impulsive behavior in ADHD-boys with hyperactivity may lead to an increased food intake, which is then likely to overcompensate the heightened energy expenditure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Trier, 54286 Trier, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hubel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jass
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Laessle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D004435:Eating; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*