Hyperactivity drug could treat obesity, say experts
Drugs given to hyperactive children could be used to treat obesity as new research reveals many overweight adults have undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The study showed that nearly one in three obese adults who fail to lose weight through diet and exercise have the condition, which can affect willpower.
Scientists claim that using drugs such as Ritalin in these cases could be the answer to Britain’s obesity epidemic.
Researcher Dr Lance Levy, from the Nutritional Disorders Clinic in Toronto, said: "People with ADHD are more likely to develop weight problems than those without it. But obesity itself does not cause ADHD."
Of the 242 severely obese patients studied, those who took anti-hyperactivity drugs for a year lost an average of 12 per cent of their body weight, compared with the control group who lost 2.7 per cent.
The medication also reduced restlessness and anxiety, so participants were less inclined to binge and snack between meals.
If current obesity trends continue, nine out of ten adults will be overweight by 2050 with the cost to the wider economy to hit £50 billion a year if left unchecked.
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