Medication is typically the cure for children that have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), namely Ritalin or Adderall. But researchers have found a less clinical solution: promoting healthy lifestyles.
Investigators analyzed 184 children with the disorder against a variable of 104 children without ADHD. Children who were diagnosed exhibited behaviors that deviated from the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Sleep Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture according to a UPI report.
The criterion cover a range of lifestyle contexts; no more than two hours of total screen time per day including television, computers, and video games; at least one hour of physical activity; restricted sugar intake; getting nine to 11 hours of sleep a night; and consuming seven to 10 cups of water a day based on age. All subjects were aged between 7 and 11 years old.
The collected evidence indicates that following more of these guidelines could help children overcome ADHD. Study co-author and member of the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience at American University in Washington, D.C., Kathleen Holton, said, “Many parents of children diagnosed with ADHD do not want their children on medication. Having their children follow healthy lifestyle behaviors may be an effective intervention, either alongside or in the place of traditional ADHD medications.”
“Parents of children with ADHD should talk with their pediatrician about how to improve health behaviors, such as limiting screen time, encouraging physical activity, improving bedtime routines and drinking water rather than other beverages,” she also noted in a university news release.
And altering a number of lifestyle habits at one time could lead to other healthy habits, Holton added. “For example, physical activity increases thirst, making water consumption more attractive. Physical activity can also offset screen time and can improve sleep,” and, “Similarly, removal of caffeinated beverages prevents their diuretic effect, helps increase water consumption and can help prevent sleep disturbance.”
Continued research into the results could provide new insights into the number of healthy lifestyle choices applied at once Holton said.