The Impulse to Eat

Attention disorders are linked to obesity.

By Kaja Perina, published on January 01, 2003 - last reviewed on December 03, 2004

Attention-deficit disorder occurs more often in obese individuals than in the general population, perhaps because these disorders can severely hamper impulse control.

Jules Altfas, M.D., of the Behavioral Medical Center for Treatment and Research, reviewed the records of 215 obese patients and found that more than one in four suffers from ADHD. The rate jumps to one in two for the most overweight, or morbidly obese, subjects. Altfas attributes the link to "impulsivity and an inability to keep track of one's diet and behavior."

Altfas' study is published online by BioMed Central.