A University of Sydney trial has quietly clarified a longstanding clinical question: among the two most common stimulant treatments for childhood ADHD, both heal the mind with equal measure, yet one weighs more heavily on the body. The finding — that dexamphetamine produces roughly four times the early weight loss of methylphenidate in children — does not crown a winner, but rather hands clinicians a more honest map of the terrain they are already navigating. In medicine, as in life, equivalent outcomes rarely mean identical journeys.
Dexamphetamine linked to greater early weight loss than methylphenidate in ADHD kids
Children prescribed dexamphetamine experience greater weight loss during early treatment, requiring monitoring and potential dietary management.