Skip to main content
DayTrellis

Library / Nutrition

Israeli children with ADHD ate more ultra-processed foods

By Aaron Wilson, FounderObservational studyLooks at people as they are, without random assignment. Useful, less decisive than a trial. How we label evidence2-min readupdated October 20, 2026

Reviewed by the founder before publishing. Not reviewed by a clinician.

This is an evidence note. It's our summary of a single study, kept so you can check the research behind our articles. It is not guidance on its own. Start with the library's practical reads.

Studied in children · a mixed population.

This study looked at the diets of 1135 children aged 6 to 11 from the 2015-2016 Israeli Kids Health and Nutrition Survey. Of these, 111 had a physician diagnosis of ADHD, as reported by a parent. Of those, 37 were receiving regular stimulant treatment and 74 were not.

Ultra-processed foods were measured as grams per day and as a share of all food eaten by weight. Before any adjustment, children with ADHD typically ate more of these foods (419.0 grams/day). Children without ADHD typically ate less (334.0 grams/day).

The link held after the team accounted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, total energy, fiber and alpha-linolenic acid intake. Children with ADHD had higher odds of eating above the middle amount. The low end of the likely range for that estimate was close to no difference.

Stimulant treatment did not seem to change how much of these foods children with ADHD ate. The authors urge caution here because the subgroup was small.

This was a snapshot study, so it cannot show cause or which came first. ADHD status rested on parent report without an independent check, and diet came from a single 24-hour recall.

The authors suggest that reducing ultra-processed foods is reasonable as part of comprehensive ADHD care for children, for example through shared family meals and structured snack times.

Families with questions about their own child's diet should talk to a clinician about their situation.

The numbers Stats and what the terms mean

The statistics behind the plain-language claims above.

  • Namimi-Halevi, 2026: odds of eating above the middle amount of ultra-processed foods, children with ADHD compared with those without, odds ratio 1.622; low end of the likely range 1.010.

What the terms mean:

  • Odds ratio compares the odds of an outcome between two groups. 1 means no difference, above 1 means higher odds, and below 1 means lower odds.

Source: Namimi-Halevi C, Dor C, Kaufman-Shriqui V, et al.. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is associated with increased consumption of ultra-processed foods among children. Pediatric Research (2026). doi:10.1038/s41390-026-04844-5

Before you act on this: General wellness and education, not medical care. Supplements can interact with medication. Talk to a clinician about your situation. Crisis: 988.

Related reads

Want strategies matched to your day?

The 5-minute quiz builds a personalized five-pillar daily plan. Free, no card, and your results describe a profile, not a diagnosis.

Take the 5-minute quiz

Sources

  1. Namimi-Halevi C, Dor C, Kaufman-Shriqui V, Dichtiar R, Bromberg M, Sinai T. "Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is associated with increased consumption of ultra-processed foods among children." Pediatric Research, 2026 · doi:10.1038/s41390-026-04844-5

Wellness & education only. Not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Talk to a licensed clinician about what applies to you.