Neurodevelopmental problems and extremes in BMI.

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology
• Pediatric Endocrinology

Background:

• Growing evidence links neurodevelopmental problems (NDPs) to body mass index (BMI) variations.
• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with increased risks of extreme BMI, though findings are inconsistent.
• Limited research exists on extreme BMI prevalence within general pediatric populations concerning NDPs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of extreme BMI (low or high) in children with and without ADHD and/or ASD.
• To analyze associations between extreme BMI and specific ADHD or ASD diagnostic subdomains.
• To explore genetic and environmental influences on BMI in children aged 9 and 12.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS), interviewing parents of 12,496 twins aged 9 and 12.
• Employed the Autism-Tics, ADHD and other Comorbidities (A-TAC) inventory for data collection.
• Applied univariate and multivariate generalized estimating equation models to analyze BMI extremes and NDPs.

Main Results:

• ADHD screen-positive children showed BMI distributions similar to controls, except for 12-year-old girls where ADHD inattention correlated with high BMI.
• ASD scores were linked to both low and high extreme BMIs.
• ASD screen-positive cases were threefold more common in the high BMI group and twofold in the low BMI group compared to controls. Stereotyped behaviors were linked to high BMI.

Conclusions:

• Children diagnosed with ASD, irrespective of co-occurring ADHD, exhibit a greater propensity for developing extreme BMIs (both low and high) compared to their peers without these conditions.
• The findings highlight a significant link between ASD and altered BMI trajectories.
• Further research is warranted to understand the underlying mechanisms and inform interventions.