New research conducted by scientists from University of Bristol & King’s College London found that a high sugar and high fat diet during pregnancy may be linked to symptoms of ADHD in children who show problems early in life. The study showed epigenetic changes at birth may explain the link between unhealthy diet- behavioural problems and ADHD.

Problems seen in the child from the onset such as lying, fighting, attention-deficit- hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are the primary causes of child mental health referral in the UK. These two disorders tend to occur  together, ‘more than 40 per cent of children with a diagnosis of conduct disorder also have a diagnosis of ADHD’. This can be seen back to similar prenatal health experiences such as poor nutrition and maternal anxiety.

Results from the study found that ADHD symptoms and conduct problems in children can be prevented by promoting a ‘healthy prenatal diet’. Consequently, nutritional and epigenetic risk factors can be altered.