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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychiatry
Sec. ADHD
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1392846

Exploring the Impact of Stimulant Medications on Weight in Children with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Provisionally accepted
Faten Al Eid Faten Al Eid 1,2Ammar Albanna Ammar Albanna 1,3Jessie Joseph Jessie Joseph 1Sami Talo Sami Talo 1Jeyaseelan Lakshmanan Jeyaseelan Lakshmanan 1Meshal A. Sultan Meshal A. Sultan 1*
  • 1 Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • 2 Al Jalila Children's Speciality Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • 3 Al-Amal Psychiatric Hospital, Emirates Health Services (EHS), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), prevalent in 5% of children worldwide, impacts academic performance and often coexists with psychiatric disorders. Psychostimulant medications are primary treatments for ADHD, enhancing dopamine to reduce symptoms. However, dopamine increase may cause appetite loss. This pioneering study in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) explores psychostimulant effects on weight in children diagnosed with ADHD, aiming to uncover unique regional characteristics and contributing factors to weight changes. Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed data from electronic medical records from 2017 to 2022, aiming to assess the impact of psychostimulants on weight in children aged 6-18 years. Inclusion criteria covered psychostimulant-treated and untreated patients with ADHD. Statistical analysis, involving longitudinal data methods aimed to demonstrate significant weight differences. Results: Data from 107 pediatric patients diagnosed with ADHD were analyzed, with 86 meeting inclusion criteria. Most patients were male (80.2%). ADHD presentations varied, and methylphenidate immediate-release was the most prescribed stimulant medication. Patients experienced initial weight loss followed by overall gain over 12 months. Coexisting conditions, maternal factors, family history, and correlations with autism spectrum disorder were explored.This study provides valuable insights into the effects of psychostimulant medications on the weight of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in the UAE. It suggests avenues for future research, emphasizing extended follow-ups to understand longterm psychostimulant effects, nuanced examinations of age and gender, and exploring interactions with comorbidities. Despite limitations, the research provides insights into ADHD medication effects, guiding personalized treatment approaches for pediatric populations.

    Keywords: Psychostimulants, weight, Children, adolescents, Attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

    Received: 28 Feb 2024; Accepted: 25 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Al Eid, Albanna, Joseph, Talo, Lakshmanan and Sultan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Meshal A. Sultan, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.