Question | ADHD Information

Share

I was just reading in my Child magazine about Type1 and Type 2 Diabetes becoming an epidemic with many overweight children. And I thought to myself as I skipped through the pages, "at least I don't have to worry about that with my child" he's so active, hyper, he will never be overweight. Then I was wondering, are there any ADHD, especially with the H, that ARE overweight? I suppose there could be if they ate alot of junk.......my child is not a big eater, never has been, and he eats whatever he wants, but he's a great weight. Any one here have an overweight ADHD child?

Maybe another PLUS for him being ADHD???? LOL I'm always looking for the good points about my child being this way......it'snot a curse, it's an adventure!!!!

Sorry i don't have a adhd child that is over weight. Mine is skinny minnie. And probably because he burns up what he eats. But that is good. Because his dad side and mine have over weight people on both sides. I just hope he stays active and skinny. The doctor said not to worry about his weight he should be fine.

Mine is on the thinner side because he grows so fast! He's already two full years ahead in growth. He's going to be tall. When he's not going through a growth spurt, he's a great weight but when he grows .. he thins out.

I currently work with a child with ADHD who is overweight. I've known a few in the past that were as well. Also, it's common for some children with ADHD to have food sensitivities and these are the kids that are drawn to nothing but junk foods .. and won't eat anything else. Many of these kids are the ones that are medicated (from my experience anyhow).

My son is quite skinny and has combined type adhd but is very hyper.He never stops eating and to somewhat food is an obesession but for now he is lean n tall.The docs said when he was started on Ritalin that he might lose his appetite but he eats just as much if not more. I have a ten year old son with adhd and is very active and with the medications so not eat much, no breakfast or lunch, dinner is usually meat,potatoe,veg and milk once in a while a cookie for snack well he is very short 4'1 and 114lbs! They dont know why is is gaining weight, He was in the hospital for 3 months and gained weight and they told me I must of been sneeking him food well I got so sick and tired of being accused I took him out and complained to the insurence company. well back to the subject, There are all types of adhd and medications diabetes has nothing to due with weight or sugar intake, I was diabetic for years and had a double transplant now no longer diabetic, Hope that helps.

I have a couple of nephews who are ADHD and have comorbid issues. One of the mood stabilizers they are on causes them to eat a lot and they are both overweight. When they don't take the mood stabilizer though, the weight just drops off and they don't get hungry.

Kind of an aside, but they are looking into a link between childhood diabetes and vaccinations........ interesting!my girls appetite scares me at times for she tries to go nuts some days and others not eat as much.  I put limits and try to keep only healthier choices around and that is why I indulge her in all the activities like swimming lessons, gymnastics, dance and now girl scouts.  I am a diabetic mom and am working on some weight loss and do not want that for her ADHD is enough to deal with.  This hits a nerve for that reason alone it is hereditary and my child is not overweight and I plan to keep her that way.

It is true that some meds, especially mood stabilizers can cause an appetite increase. For us it was my DD's asthma meds that caused her the most weight gain, Straterra also caused an appetite increase and we stopped it. My dd is overweight, and although her dr says it is not a major thing, I still worry. I honestly do not see how she keeps the pounds on. Yes, she is on meds( daytrana) and NO, she does not have food sensitivities that cause her to gravitate towards junk food.  Her diet consists of alot of fruits and vegetables, in quite a large variety, ( we are vegan), there is not processed food in my house, no chips, and no candy or sweets.We also eat gluten free because my older DD has Celiacs disease. We honestly have according to my dr the healthiest diet he has ever seen.

 

It is also not always caused by *junk foods*, some kids are genetically predisposed to weight gain.

My son has always been heavy, though since he started meds 1 1/2 years
ago he is down to "sturdy" or "beefy". His hyperactivity shows as extreme
restlessness and impulsiveness; he is not coordinated enough to be
traditionally hyper. He just never stops moving. We do not watch TV in
our house, and he chair-dances while playing computer games. I make all
of his meals and we eat minimal sugar, no juice or soda, all whole grains,
low-fat dairy, lean meats, etc. He loves fruit and he LOVES broccoli. His
current school (private) does not allow "sugary" foods, even for parties or
treats. So he should be perfect, right?

His problem has been that he can't read his body's signals, or that his
body doesn't tell him when he is full. If he can see the food, he asks for
more. Pre-school was "family-style", so he would just keep asking for
more because there was a big bowl of food sitting there. He was 36" and
42#. I keep all food out of sight and I only give him reasonable portions.
When we go camping, he is not allowed in the coolers, and I keep all "dry"
food and snacks in a brown grocery bag that is off limits. I don't let him
know what I have brought, or he will get obsessed with something like
granola bars and get very wierd and intense about it. I think it is the
stress of the new setting in those cases. Hopefully this will all improve
with age and self-awareness.

P.S. My ex is 5'8" and 160#, and lives on Pepsi, coffee with tons of sugar,
candy, and potato chips. And cigarettes. So our son eats terribly every
other weekend, but never asks me for the donuts or ice cream that he has
for breakfast there. It is just a different, but not preferred, menu.

Bonus points if you can guess dad's profession.