title: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder increases the risk of having abnormal eating behaviours in obese adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rate of abnormal eating behaviours in obese adult patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in comparison with obese adult patients without ADHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study includes: obese adult patients defined by a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m², screening positive in the adult ADHD self-report scale-V1.1. (ASRS-V1.1), attending the Nutrition Section, as cases; and obese adult patients screening negative, as controls. Weight, height and BMI were determined in all the participants. The rate of abnormal eating behaviours was determined using an eating pattern questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five out of 51 (88.2%) cases vs 127 out of 179 (70.9%) controls had abnormal eating behaviours (p=0.01). Eating between-meal snacks was found in 39 (76.5%) cases vs 107 (59.8%) controls (p=0.03), going on binge eating episodes in 28 (54.9%) vs 42 (23.5%) (p=0.00), waking up at night to eat in 11 (21.6%) vs 16 (8.9%) (p=0.01), eating large amounts of food in 13 (25.5%) vs 38 (21.2%) (p=0.52), and eating in secret in 11 (21.6%) vs 16 (8.9%) (p=0.01), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study that determines the rate of these abnormal eating behaviours in obese adult patients with ADHD in comparison with obese adult patients without ADHD. A high rate of abnormal eating behaviours was observed in obese patients with ADHD. Our results suggest that ADHD is a risk factor for the development of these abnormal eating behaviours, which may be contributing factors of obesity and the unsuccessful treatment of obese patients.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Section, University Hospital of Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Docet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larrañaga
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Pérez Méndez
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: García-Mayor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D057906:Circadian Clocks; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D062410:Snacks; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires