Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medications and BMI trajectories: The role of medication type, sex and age.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the medications used to treat it are associated with obesity. Stimulants lead to weight loss, while antipsychotics and antidepressants lead to weight gain. Little is known, however, how alpha-2-agonists impact weight, or the independent effect on BMI of these four classes of medications, which are often prescribed concurrently. We aimed to estimate the proximal change in BMI associated with start of medication and to assess whether medication-specific departures in BMI varied by age and sex.

Study design

We analysed longitudinal electronic health records from children (4-19 years) with an ADHD diagnosis seen at one healthcare system (2011-2018). Their BMI z-scores were fit as a cubic function of age via a mixed m

SUBMITTER: Gurka MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8276278 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature