Frequency of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Arthur Kummer, Izabela Guimarães Barbosa, David Henrique Rodrigues, Natália Pessoa Rocha, Marianna Da Silva Rafael, Larissa Pfeilsticker, Ana Cristina Simõese Silva, Antônio Lúcio Teixeira

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To assess the frequency of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their parents, in comparison with children and adolescents without developmental disorders. Methods Anthropometric measures were obtained in 69 outpatients with ASD (8.4±4.2 years old), 23 with ADHD (8.5±2.4) and 19 controls without developmental disorders (8.6±2.9) between August and November 2014. Parents of patients with ASD and ADHD also had their anthropometric parameters taken. Overweight was defined as a percentile ≥85; obesity as a percentile ≥95; and underweight as a percentile ≤5. For adults, overweight was defined as a BMI between 25 and 30kg/m2 and obesity as a BMI higher than 30kg/m2. Results Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD had higher BMI percentile (p<0.01) and z-score (p<0.01) than controls, and increased frequency of overweight and obesity (p=0.04). Patients with ASD and ADHD did not differ between them in these variables, nor regarding abdominal circumference. Parents of children with ASD and ADHD did not differ between themselves. Conclusions Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD are at a higher risk of overweight and obesity than children without developmental problems in the community.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)71-77
Number of pages7
JournalRevista Paulista de Pediatria
Volume34
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
  • Austistic disorder
  • Overweight
  • Pediatric obesity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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