However, the First Lady’s strategy might be open to an unexpected counterpunch: ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. While ADHD affects nearly 5% of Americans, an article from the January 2009 issue of the journal “Obesity” states that 26–61% of patients seeking weight loss treatment struggle with ADHD and obesity.

But what is it about ADHD that increases the chances of obesity?

People with ADHD tend to be impulsive and easily distracted and hyper-focus. As such, they make hasty eating choices and frequently use food to relieve boredom. Paradoxically, when people with ADHD hyper-focus they can become so engaged within an activity that they don’t realize how much they’ve eaten, or they simply forget to eat. By the time they do eat, they are more likely to be starving and gorge themselves — and much less likely to make positive food choices.

Here are six weight loss tips that can help you beat obesity when you have ADHD:

1. Seek a professional diagnosis. Get a diagnosis to determine if you actually have ADHD. Also, find out if you have any co-existing conditions. For example, anxiety, depression, substance and/or alcohol problems can significantly undermine your weight loss efforts.

2. Schedule your meals the night before with plans to eat three good meals and a few healthy snacks. Packing your food will help you make healthier choices and eat smaller portions.

3. Pay attention to your body’s signals that it’s hungry, and schedule your meals throughout the day. These practices will help to avoid getting so wrapped up in an activity that you later make poor choices such as eating unhealthy snacks and overeating because you are hungry.

4. Recognize the first three letters of the word “diet” are D-I-E. We’re talking about lifestyle changes, and not fad diets here. Fad dieters are more likely to lose muscle and fat; and unfortunately when they regain the weight they replace it with only fat — and not muscle. As such, fad diets make us unhealthier and increase the chances of obesity.

5. Focus on being healthy instead of “skinny.”

6. People with ADHD need to get more active. Rather than turning to food when bored or stressed, turn to more stimulating activities such as horseback riding, canoeing, cycling or paintball.

These suggestions should help people with ADHD to win Mrs. Obama’s fight against America’s obesity epidemic.

Using drugs to treat ADHD should only be used as a last resort, and rarely are the best long term solution.  Among non-drug options for managing ADHD, here are Five proven diet strategies:

 Test for gluten sensitivity:In the general population, only 1% of people are sensitive to gluten. However, research has found the sensitivity rates to be much higher in people with ADHD. Your family doctor can check for gluten sensitivity with a blood test. If you are gluten-sensitive, consider removing glutens from your diet. In some cases this can produce dramatic and almost immediate results. Glutens are found in wheat, rye, and barley.

 Avoid high-mercury fish:Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury, which can zap your ability to think and concentrate. These potential side effects occur with much lower levels of exposure than for adults. If you have ADHD, you should to avoid high mercury fish. That includes shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tile-fish.

 Add multi-vitamins and Intracellular Vitamin Analysis: While everyone should take a multivitamin, it is especially important people with ADHD. In addition, Intracellular Vitamin Analysis (a test your family doctor can perform), can provide a better idea of exactly which vitamins and minerals you might need to supplement.

 Add DHA supplements: Studies have found that ADHD is much more common in men with low levels of DHA, an omega-3 essential fatty acid that plays a key role in brain function. DHA supplements derived from marine algae, have been found to be quite effective for people with ADHD. Research suggests 400 mg per day are optimal.

 Consider other brain-specific nutrients:Here are five supplements (besides DHA) that should serve as the foundation of an effective ADHD diet: N-acetyl-cysteine, Phosphatidylserine, Alpha lipoic acid, Coenzyme Q-10, and Ginkgo Biloba. All five have been clinically proven to protect the brain and enhance brain function, and I have seen patients enjoy great success using them in my own private practice.

 The Bottom Line
Only your family doctor and you can determine the best way to deal with your ADHD. But these top five nutritional tips may be able to give you the help they need to concentrate and focus more easily and succeed in your business.