Child and adolescent obesity and ADHD : psychological impact and bullying

Obesity is defined as an abnormal fat accumulation that could put a person’s health at risk. ADHD is a neurological disorder, which is usually diagnosed in childhood. Studies indicate that ADHD children have a higher BMI than non-ADHD children. Furthermore, studies on both ADHD children and on children with obesity show that both children with ADHD and children with obesity are more likely to have anxiety, emotional problems and be bullied then non-ADHD children and children not with obesity. Present study analyzes whether ADHD children in obesity, had other comorbid concerns than children in obesity that do not have ADHD. Participants in this study (N = 374) were patients at the Children's Medical Center in Iceland, who had undergone obesity treatment. Results showed no difference between BMI-SDS scores for those who had ADHD and other comorbid concerns and for those who did not have ADHD and other comorbid concerns. However ADHD children were more likely to have anxiety, emotional problems and be bullied than non-ADHD children. Results indicate that other comorbid concerns may not affect the obesity of ADHD children in this sample. However, there is a great need to investigate this further.

Author dc:creator

• Sandra María Bergþórsdóttir 1990-

Contributors dc:contributor

• Háskólinn í Reykjavík

• Sálfræði
• Offita
• Einelti
• Psychology
• Obesity
• Bullying

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1946/28636

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:skemman.is:1946/28636