Western diet linked to ADHD

Losing weight is one of the main reasons why people adjust their diets, but a new study has shown that what youngsters eat can increase their risk of developing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Researchers from the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth, Australia, discovered a link between a western-style diet and ADHD in adolescents.

This kind of diet includes lots of takeaway foods, confectionery, processed, fried and refined foods, making it higher in saturated fat, refined sugar and sodium.

“We found a diet high in the western pattern of foods was associated with more than double the risk of having an ADHD diagnosis compared with a diet low in the western pattern,” said Dr Wendy Oddy, leader of nutrition studies at the institute.

She went on to say, however, that further research needs to be conducted in order to confirm these findings.

Earlier in the year, a public service announcement from the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association stressed that parents should lead by example when it comes to diet, cooking meals for their kids using low-fat, low-calorie recipes.

Are you more likely to eat healthily now you know the impact a western diet could have on your kids?