Share

ADHD linked to binge-eating disorder in kids

accreditation

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have an increased risk of a certain type of eating disorder, according to a new study.

Can't stop eating

The eating disorder is called loss of control eating syndrome (LOC-ES). As the name implies, people with this disorder sometimes can't stop eating, even if they want to, according to the researchers from the Johns Hopkins Children's Centre in Baltimore.

Their study included 79 children between the ages of 8 and 14. The kids were assessed for ADHD and the eating disorder. Those with ADHD were 12 times more likely to have the eating disorder than those without ADHD, the study revealed.

Read: Diagnosing ADHD

Among overweight and obese children, those with LOC-ES were seven times more likely to have ADHD than those without the eating disorder.

Also, children who scored higher on tests of impulsivity were more likely to have the eating disorder, whether or not they had ADHD, according to the study.

More severe form of ADHD

Children with both ADHD and LOC-ES may have a more severe form of ADHD marked by more impulsive behaviour that shows up strongly in their eating habits, said study leader Dr. Shauna Reinblatt in a Hopkins news release.

She is an assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at the university's School of Medicine.

Read: Treating ADHD

Or it may be that children with both ADHD and LOC-ES have a shared underlying risk factor, such as a genetic predisposition to impulsivity, she added.

Further research is needed to learn more about the connection between the two disorders, but doctors should screen for both ADHD and eating disorders, according to Reinblatt.

New treatment strategies

"Our findings underscore the need for developing new treatment strategies that could help target disinhibited eating in kids who have both ADHD and LOC-ES," she said.

The study was published recently in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

Read More:

Fidgeting may help children with ADHD learn

The ABC of ADHD

Kids of obese moms have elevated risk of ADHD

Image: Kid eating spaghetti from Shutterstock

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE