Exploring the bidirectional associations of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptomatology, nutritional status, and body composition in childhood: evidence from a Brazilian Birth Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
Children with higher ADHD symptoms showed increased growth in weight, height, and BMI. The observed increase in weight and BMI was attributed to greater FFM in these children.
Study context
- Population
- Children from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort, assessed at 4 and 6–7 years of age
- Participants
- 3,940 children
- Exposure
- ADHD symptoms vs nutritional status and body composition
- Outcome
- Associations of ADHD symptoms with nutritional status (weight, height, BMI) and body composition (fat mass, fat-free mass)
- Follow-up
- Ages 4 and 6-7
Methodological detailslinear regression, cross-lagged panel model
- Linear regression
- Cross-lagged panel model
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Association of ADHD symptoms with nutritional status and body composition
- Height at age 4, β
- 0.01 (95% CI 0.001, 0.026)
- Fat-free mass (FFM) at age 4, β
- 0.02 (95% CI 0.008-0.035)
- BMI at ages 6-7, β
- 0.02 (95% CI 0.002, 0.038)
- Weight at ages 6-7, β
- 0. 02 (95% CI 0.005, 0.039)
- Height at ages 6-7, β
- 0.01 (95% CI 0.000, 0.024)
- FFM at ages 6-7, β
- 0.02 (95% CI 0.012, 0.040)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Bidirectional ADHD symptoms–BMI associations (cross-lagged panel model) · age 4 to ages 6-7
- ADHD scores at age 4 predicting BMI z-scores at ages 6-7, β
- 0.003 (95% CI −0.026, 0.020)
- BMI z-scores at age 4 predicting ADHD scores at ages 6-7, β
- 0.013 (95% CI −0.018, 0.044)
- Small effect suggesting bidirectional relationship; not statistically significant
Original publication
Exploring the bidirectional associations of ADHD symptomatology, nutritional status, and body composition in childhood: evidence from a Brazilian Birth Cohort Study. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 27 March 2025. doi:10.
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