Dysfunctional Eating Patterns of Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2018 Nov;206(11):870-874. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000894.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine whether adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in students is associated with overeating or with unhealthy food choices. Sixty university students with and without ADHD, aged 20 to 30 years, completed the Food Frequency Questionnaire and reported their height and weight. Students with ADHD had a higher body mass index compared with students without ADHD. Although participants in both groups consumed similar amounts of servings, calories, and nutrients, students with ADHD reported lower healthy/unhealthy food consumption ratio. These findings suggest that ADHD in students is not associated with general overeating, but with a biased proportion of unhealthy versus healthy food consumption.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diet / psychology
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperphagia / etiology*
  • Hyperphagia / psychology
  • Male
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult