الفهرس 
Eating Behaviors and Eating Disorders in Children
Emotional Processing and RegulationOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Background: There is growing evidence that disturbed eating behaviors as well as obesity co-occurs with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The current study aims to examine the association between ADHD symptoms, eating behaviors and obesity in ADHD children.
Objective: This study aimed to identify different eating behaviors in children with ADHD and detect their relation to ADHD symptoms profile. Also to detect the association between disturbed eating behaviors and abnormal body weight in ADHD children.
Patients and methods: We included 50 ADHD children diagnosed by Conners scale and 50 matched healthy controls. They completed the Emotional Eating scale adapted for children (ESS-C) to assess eating in response to emotions. Parents completed the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) to assess children’s eating behavior.
Results: Higher rates of disturbed eating behaviors and abnormal weight were detected among ADHD children than among controls. Also, more severe ADHD symptoms (indicated by higher Conners global index) were associated with higher BMI z-scores. Both Inattentive and combined types of ADHD were associated with higher BMI, while hyperactive type was associated with lower BMI. Regarding eating behaviors; we found positive association between food approach behaviors and BMI z-scores, while a negative association between food avoidant and BMI z-scores was found. Similarly, there was a significant positive association between emotional overeating and BMI z-scores. 68% of ADHD children, mainly inattentive and combined types, were high emotional eaters. Others, mainly hyperactive type, were low emotional eaters. Only ESS-C total score was confirmed as an independent risk factor for higher BMI as found by Multivariable linear regression analysis.
Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that emotional overeating and food approach eating behaviors are common among ADHD children with higher BMI z-scores associated with them. Future studies for better understanding of this overlap will enhance potential interventions