A recent study published by Scientific Reports has examined the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in children in Israel, drawing on data from a large national health and nutrition survey.
The analysis included more than 1,100 children aged 6–11 years, with around one in ten having a reported clinical diagnosis of ADHD. The findings indicate that children with ADHD were more likely to have higher intakes of ultra-processed foods, both in terms of total quantity consumed and their contribution to the overall diet. This association remained after accounting for factors such as age, sex, socioeconomic background, and general dietary intake.
Ultra-processed foods refer to industrially manufactured products that typically contain multiple ingredients, including additives, flavourings, and preservatives, and often lack whole food components. Diets high in these foods have previously been associated with reduced nutritional quality and a range of adverse health outcomes, including potential effects on metabolic and behavioural health in children.
This study is the first to demonstrate an adjusted association between physician-diagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in children, both in absolute food weight and as a percentage of total food weight intake, independent of stimulant treatment status. However, as this was an observational study based on a single time point, it cannot determine whether diet contributes to ADHD symptoms, or whether ADHD influences dietary habits. No clear differences in ultra-processed food intake were identified between children receiving stimulant medication and those who were not, although the sample size for this comparison was limited.
Namimi-Halevi, C., Dor, C., Kaufman-Shriqui, V., Dichtiar, R., Bromberg, M., & Sinai, T. (2026). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is associated with increased consumption of ultra-processed foods among children. Pediatric Research.
