Youth suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a higher risk of developing abdominal obesity, which in turn leads to high blood pressure. This has been revealed in a study by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and ABVIMS.
Important information regarding the health of the youth has come to light in this. The study reported that youth with combined ADHD had a 2.4 times higher risk of increased waist circumference and a 1.9 times higher risk of increased waist-height ratio. Research has revealed that the relationship between ADHD and obesity becomes stronger with increasing age.
Although the study did not find a direct statistical association with high blood pressure, there was a clear trend for blood pressure to increase with age in youth with ADHD. The study was conducted on young adults, especially college students, in Delhi-NCR. This study has been published in the American Journal of Human Biology.
It has been told inside that pre-hypertension and central obesity are already a matter of concern among the youth in Delhi. In such a situation, this research shows that mental health should also be given an important place in the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
These habits are spoiling your health
The researcher of the study, Dr. Lokesh Shekhawat, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, RML Hospital, said that due to ADHD, immediate reaction without thinking and behavior without thinking increases. This leads to unhealthy eating habits, low physical activity and poor lifestyle habits, which increase the risk of obesity and high blood pressure in the future.
Get counseling if needed
According to Dr. Shekhawat, if ADHD is identified timely and managed properly, then problems like obesity and hypertension can be prevented to a great extent. He advised the youth to have regular blood pressure check, balanced diet, daily exercise and seek counseling if needed. He said that in urban areas like Delhi-NCR, symptoms of ADHD and obesity are increasing rapidly due to stress, irregular daily routine, junk food and increasing screen time.
protect yourself like this
- Get your blood pressure checked regularly
- eat a balanced diet
- exercise daily
- If you experience problems like concentration or hyperactivity, consult a doctor.