Frequency of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Abstract Objective: To assess the frequency of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their parents, in comparison with children and adolescents without developmental disorders. Methods: Anthropometric measures were obtained in 69 outpatients with ASD (8.4±4.2 years old), 23 with ADHD (8.5±2.4) and 19 controls without developmental disorders (8.6±2.9) between August and November 2014. Parents of patients with ASD and ADHD also had their anthropometric parameters taken. Overweight was defined as a percentile ≥85; obesity as a percentile ≥95; and underweight as a percentile ≤5. For adults, overweight was defined as a BMI between 25 and 30kg/m2 and obesity as a BMI higher than 30kg/m2. Results: Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD had higher BMI percentile (p<0.01) and z-score (p<0.01) than controls, and increased frequency of overweight and obesity (p=0.04). Patients with ASD and ADHD did not differ between them in these variables, nor regarding abdominal circumference. Parents of children with ASD and ADHD did not differ between themselves. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD are at a higher risk of overweight and obesity than children without developmental problems in the community.

摘要：
研究目的：本研究旨在评估自闭症谱系障碍（Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD）患儿、注意缺陷多动障碍（Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD）患儿及其父母的超重与肥胖患病率，并与无发育障碍的儿童青少年进行对比。
研究方法：本研究于2014年8月至11月期间，纳入69例ASD门诊患儿（年龄8.4±4.2岁）、23例ADHD门诊患儿（年龄8.5±2.4岁）以及19例无发育障碍的对照儿童青少年（年龄8.6±2.9岁），采集其人体测量学指标；同时采集ASD与ADHD患儿父母的人体测量学参数。超重定义为百分位数≥85，肥胖定义为百分位数≥95，体质量过低定义为百分位数≤5；成人超重定义为体质量指数（Body Mass Index, BMI）介于25~30kg/m²，肥胖定义为BMI＞30kg/m²。
研究结果：ASD与ADHD患儿的BMI百分位数（p<0.01）及z评分（p<0.01）均显著高于对照人群，且超重与肥胖患病率更高（p=0.04）；ASD与ADHD患儿在上述指标及腰围方面均无显著差异。ASD与ADHD患儿的父母之间上述指标亦无显著差异。
研究结论：相较于社区内无发育问题的儿童青少年，ASD与ADHD患儿罹患超重与肥胖的风险更高。