Evaluation of the relationship between the frequency of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder symptoms and nutritional habits in children

ADHD is a common chronic neurodevelopment disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity at levels that are not compatible with age. ADHD is typically believed to begin in early childhood, but the diagnosis is often made at school age. Many children diagnosed with ADHD continue to have problems in education and social functioning during adolescence and young adulthood. Therefore, ADHD is one of the high social and individual costs for the population of the country. Our study was carried out in order to reach the students and their parents studying in primary schools in Tekirdağ province Süleymanpaşa district, to investigate the children's eating habits, the relationship between ADHD and eating habits, and to raise awareness of ADHD in parents and health workers by measuring the frequency of ADHD symptoms.In our study, 67 (11.1%) of the children were breastfed for 0-2 months. 0-2 months breastfed, mean CPRS-48 score was found to be statistically significantly higher than those fed for more than 6 months. 157 (26.25%) of the children do not skip meals. The average CPRS-48 score of the children was compared to those who skipped meals frequently, those who skipped sometimes, and those who never skipped; it was determined that those who jump sometimes were statistically significantly higher than those who did not jump at all. 525 of the children (86.8%) eat breakfast regularly. The mean CPRS-48 score of the children who regularly had breakfast was found to be statistically significantly lower than those of the children who did not regularly eat breakfast. A negative, very weak, statistically significant correlation was observed between the children's mean healthy food consumption frequency score and the mean CPRS-48 score.As a result, although eating habits are a risk factor for ADHD, when the right eating habits are acquired, they can reduce the risk or symptoms of ADHD. However, more extensive and valid studies should be conducted to better explain this issue.