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Published on: February 2, 2017
Symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, overeating, and body mass index in men
Rachel Strimas1, Caroline Davis, Karen Patte
1Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, 343 Bethune College, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3. rstrimas@psych.ryerson.ca
Background:
The high prevalence of obesity currently poses a global health crisis. Previous research has identified a novel link between obesity and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD(H)D). Davis, Levitan, Smith, Tweed and Curtis [Davis, C., Levitan, R. D., Smith, M., Tweed, S., & Curtis, C. (2006). Associations among overeating, overweight, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A structural equation modeling approach. Eating Behaviors, 7, 266-274] recently tested a structural equation model predicting that AD(H)D symptoms foster overeating and subsequently contribute to the variation in Body Mass Index (BMI) in a sample of healthy adult females. The data were an excellent fit to the model.
Purpose:
In order to extend the generalizability of these findings, the present study tested the same model in 145 non-clinical adult males.
Results:
Similar to the findings in females, AD(H)D symptoms positively predicted overeating in males, which in turn positively predicted BMI.
Conclusions:
Results highlight mechanisms whereby AD(H)D symptoms could influence body mass and stress the importance of addressing AD(H)D symptoms in both the prevention and treatment of overeating and obesity.
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