Do ADHD Medications Suppress Growth? What the Research Says and What Parents Need to Know
May 02, 2025
One of the most common concerns I hear from parents considering ADHD medication for their child is this:
“Will it stunt their growth?”
It’s a fair question—after all, we all want to support our children’s long-term health and development. And for years, headlines and early studies have sounded the alarm about stimulant medications possibly affecting height and weight gain.
But the reality is more nuanced—and much more reassuring than the fears suggest.
This article walks you through what the early concerns were, what the current research says, and how to think about growth in the context of treating ADHD effectively and compassionately.
The Origin of the Concern: Early Studies and the MTA Trial
The concern about growth suppression began gaining traction in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the publication of the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA Study)—the largest, most comprehensive ADHD treatment study ever conducted.
The MTA study compared four treatment arms:
1. Medication management
2. Behavioral therapy
3. Combined therapy
4. Community care
Over the first 1–3 years, researchers noted that children in the medication-only and combined groups grew about 1–2 cm (0.5–0.8 inches) less in height and gained less weight than those in the behavioral-only or community-care groups.
This raised understandable concern—and the idea of “growth suppression” stuck in the public narrative.
But that was only part of the story.
What We Know Now: Growth Slows, but Often Normalizes
Since the MTA, dozens of studies have explored the relationship between stimulant use and growth. Here’s what the most robust, up-to-date research tells us:
1. Yes, there may be a modest slowing of growth initially.
Stimulants, especially at higher doses or with continuous use, can temporarily suppress appetite, which in turn can reduce caloric intake and slow weight gain. This can lead to a mild delay in height velocity, especially in the first 1–3 years of treatment.
2. The effects are generally small and often transient.
Most longitudinal studies show that this early slowing is partial and temporary, with many children catching up later in adolescence or adulthood.
A 2020 review published in Pediatrics concluded that the average difference in final adult height was less than 1 inch for children on long-term stimulant therapy—and often even less when medication holidays or dose adjustments were used (Faraone et al., 2020).
3. There is no evidence that stimulant treatment leads to significantly reduced adult height.
Several long-term studies, including one following participants for more than 10 years, found no clinically significant difference in adult height for those who had used stimulant medications in childhood compared to those who had not.
Factors That Can Influence Growth
Not every child experiences the same effects. Growth outcomes may vary depending on:
• Medication type (methylphenidate vs. amphetamine)
• Dose and duration of treatment
• Individual sensitivity to appetite suppression
• Use of “drug holidays” or breaks during weekends/summers
• Overall nutrition and physical health
It’s also worth noting that untreated ADHD itself can impact growth due to poor eating habits, sleep disruption, or emotional dysregulation—so medication isn’t the only variable to consider.
What Can Parents Do?
If your child is on ADHD medication, here are practical steps to support healthy growth:
1. Monitor growth regularly.
Your pediatrician should track height and weight at every visit, ideally using growth curves to look for patterns over time.
2. Support appetite and nutrition.
• Offer high-calorie, protein-rich meals at times when appetite is best—usually breakfast or dinner.
• Smoothies, protein bars, and healthy fats can help meet nutritional needs.
• Sometimes shifting medication timing (e.g., taking after breakfast) helps preserve morning appetite.
3. Use medication breaks if appropriate (for many children and teens this is not a realistic option and is reserved for those cases when children are falling off of their growth chart or have significant weight loss.)
Some providers recommend “drug holidays” (e.g., weekends or summer breaks) to allow for appetite rebound and growth. This should always be done in collaboration with your child’s provider.
4. Collaborate with your care team.
Discuss any growth concerns with your child’s pediatrician or prescribing provider. If needed, a referral to a pediatric endocrinologist can help rule out other causes of slowed growth.
The Bigger Picture: Balancing Growth with Functioning
It’s easy to focus on centimeters and pounds—but growth isn’t the only metric that matters.
ADHD medications can dramatically improve a child’s ability to focus, regulate emotions, build self-esteem, succeed in school, and connect socially. For many children, medication makes the difference between chronic struggle and daily success.
And untreated ADHD is not without risks—including increased injury rates, school failure, anxiety, depression, and poor life outcomes.
In most cases, the benefits of medication far outweigh the small and manageable effects on growth—especially when combined with close monitoring and supportive care.
Final Reassurance
If you’re wrestling with this decision, you’re not alone. Many parents share your concern. But I hope you feel empowered knowing that the growth effects of ADHD medication are:
• Typically mild
• Often temporary
• Easily monitored
• And far outweighed by the proven benefits of treatment
Making the decision to start ADHD medication isn’t about choosing between growth and function—it’s about creating the best possible foundation for your child’s development, both inside and out.
Additional Resources
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): www.aap.org
• CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD): www.chadd.org
• CDC on ADHD Treatment: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd
Bibliography
1. Faraone, S. V., Banaschewski, T., Coghill, D., et al. (2021). The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based Conclusions about the Disorder. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 128, 789–818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neub
2. Swanson, J. M., Elliott, G. R., Greenhill, L. L., et al. (2007). Effects of Stimulant Medication on Growth Rates Across 3 Years in the MTA Follow-up. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 46(8), 1015–1027. https://doi.org/10.1097/chi.0b
3. Poulton, A. S., et al. (2013). Stimulant treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivit
4. Harstad, E., & Levy, S. (2014). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivit
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). What is ADHD? Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adh
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