Overweight and basal metabolic rate in boys with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder
R. Hubel*, J. Jass*, A. Marcus**, and R.G. Laessle*
*Department of Psychology, University of Trier, and **Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mutterhaus der Borromäerinnen, Trier, Germany

We investigated a possible association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and overweight by measuring weight status and energy expenditure (basal metabolic rate, BMR) in 39 ADHD-boys with hyperactivity (mixed hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive or predominantly hyperactive/impulsive) and 30 healthy boys. The age range for the total group was 8-14 years. Weight and height were measured by a calibrated scales and stadiometer. Body mass index standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS) were calculated. BMR was determined by indirect calorimetry. Significant differences were obtained between the ADHD- and the control-group, but not between ADHD-subgroups. Both BMI-SDS and BMR were higher in the group of ADHD-boys, whereby the differences were more marked when they were older. More overweight and obese subjects were found in the ADHD-sample. Impulsive behavior in ADHD-boys with hyperactivity may lead to an increased food intake, which is then likely to overcompensate the heightened energy expenditure. (Eating Weight Disord. 11: 139-146, 2006). ©2006, Editrice Kurtis

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