Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and impairment in executive functions: a barrier to weight loss in individuals with obesity?

BMC Psychiatry

Debate

Marco Angriman¹  Erika Comencini²  Samuele Cortese³  Mario Speranza⁴  Brenda Vincenzi⁵ 

[1] Child Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Central Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy;Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, G. B. Rossi Hospital, Department of Life Science and Reproduction, Verona University, Verona, Italy;Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, G. B. Rossi Hospital, Department of Life Science and Reproduction, Verona University, Verona, Italy;Phyllis Green and Randolph Cowen Institute for Pediatric Neuroscience, Child Study Center of the NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA;Unità Autonoma di Neuropsichiatria Infantile, Ospedale G.B . Rossi, P.le L.A. Scuro, 12, 37134, Verona, Italy;EA4047, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Versailles, France;Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Versailles General Hospital, Le Chesnay, France;Massachusetts General Hospital, Schizophrenia Clinical and Research Program, Boston, MA, USA;

关键词: ADHD;    Executive functions;    Obesity;    Treatment resistance;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-244X-13-286

 received in 2013-03-31, accepted in 2013-07-15,  发布年份 2013

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAn increasing body of research points to a significant association of obesity to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and deficits in executive functions. There is also preliminary evidence suggesting that children with ADHD may be at risk of obesity in adulthood.DiscussionIn this article, we discuss the evidence showing that ADHD and/or deficits in executive functions are a barrier to a successful weight control in individuals enrolled in weight loss programs. Impairing symptoms of ADHD or deficits in executive functions may foster dysregulated eating behaviors, such as binge eating, emotionally-induced eating or eating in the absence of hunger, which, in turn, may contribute to unsuccessful weight loss. ADHD-related behaviors or neurocognitive impairment may also hamper a regular and structured physical activity. There is initial research showing that treatment of comorbid ADHD and executive functions training significantly improve the outcome of obesity in individuals with comorbid ADHD or impairment in executive functions.SummaryPreliminary evidence suggests that comorbid ADHD and deficits in executive functions are a barrier to a successful weight loss in individuals involved in obesity treatment programs. If further methodologically sound evidence confirms this relationship, screening and effectively managing comorbid ADHD and/or executive functions deficits in individuals with obesity might have the potential to reduce not only the burden of ADHD but also the obesity epidemics.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Cortese et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013