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ADHD and Risk of Childhood Adiposity: a Review of Recent Research

  • Maternal and Childhood Nutrition (AC Wood, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered as a risk factor for childhood adiposity and obesity. Studies on ADHD have provided limited data concerning the connections between eating habits, body mass index, and obesity. The purpose of this review was to examine the current literature regarding recent cohort and cross-sectional studies to determine the links between ADHD and childhood adiposity.

Recent Findings

Studies in this review were classified into dietary features, nutritional status, neuroimaging findings, genetic overlapping, behavioral, cognitive, and neurocognitive aspects that play a role in mediating and moderating the relationship between ADHD and obesity.

Summary

While ADHD, childhood adiposity, and overweight/obesity co-occur in children and adolescents, this relationship is largely explained by a variety of multidirectional factors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tekirdağ State Hospital, Tekirdağ, Turkey

    Serkan Turan

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bakirkoy Mazhar Osman Psychiatric Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Mustafa Tunctürk

  3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylül University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey

    Remzi Oğulcan Çıray, Eren Halaç & Çağatay Ermiş

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  1. Serkan Turan
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  2. Mustafa Tunctürk
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Turan, S., Tunctürk, M., Çıray, R.O. et al. ADHD and Risk of Childhood Adiposity: a Review of Recent Research. Curr Nutr Rep 10, 30–46 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-020-00346-w

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