title: The hyperactivity/inattention subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire predicts short- and long-term weight loss in overweight children and adolescents treated as outpatients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The success of treatment for pediatric obesity is variable and often unsatisfactory. This study elucidates the influence of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity on short- and long-term weight loss and maintenance after outpatient treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 8- to 16-year-old overweight and obese participants treated in 17 multidisciplinary outpatient treatment centers in a nationwide observational study. All treatment centers that reported long-term (1-year) follow-up weight data of at least 60% of the participants were included. At the beginning and end of treatment and at 1 year follow-up weight and height were measured at the center. Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity were assessed with the hyperactivity/inattention subscale (HI) of the parent-rated Strengths and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ). General linear models were used with the standard deviation scores of the BMI (BMI-SDS) as dependent variable and HI scores as main independent variable adjusting for age, sex, baseline BMI-SDS, and center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  394 participants were included (57% female, age: 11.7± 2.0 years, baseline BMI-SDS 2.32 ±.46 kg/m(2)). HI scores were significantly associated with short- and long-term BMI-SDS (p < 0.0005), with higher baseline HI scores predicting less weight loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity are linearly associated with reduced short- and long-term weight loss. Implications for treatment are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. a.vanegmond-froehlich@t-online.de
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Egmond-Froehlich
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bullinger
authors.forename: Reinhard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Holl
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hoffmeister
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goldapp
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Westenhoefer
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ravens-Sieberer
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Zwaan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight; D010290:Parents; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs