Predictors of adult height and weight in boys treated with methylphenidatefor childhood behavior problems

Objective: To examine associations between childhood treatment with methylp henidate (MPH) and adult height and weight. Method: Subjects were 97 boys, aged 4 to 12 years, with behavior problems who were (1) referred to a child psychiatry outpatient clinic, (2) treated clinically with MPH for an avera ge of 36 months, and (3) reevaluated between ages 21 and 23 years. Hierarch ical analyses predicted adult height and weight from sets of nonmedication and medication-related variables. Results: Medicated subjects' age, height, and parental socioeconomic status (SES) at referral predicted 44.8% of var iation in adult height. Medicated subjects' birth weight, age, height and w eight at referral, and parental SES predicted 61.8% of variation in adult w eight. With these nonmedication variables held constant, initial nausea and vomiting side effects predicted 4.4% incremental variation in adult height , and MPH maintenance dose predicted 3.2% incremental variation in adult we ight. Conclusions: Medicated individuals who had attained their final statu re did not differ in average height or weight from family community, or unm edicated controls. Most aspects of medication were not associated with adul t height or weight. In some individuals, nausea and vomiting side effects a nd treatment with higher doses of MPH were associated with adult growth dec rements.