ADHD & Disordered Eating

Did you know ADHD makes healthy eating a lot harder?  People with ADHD are more likely to develop an eating disorder than other people.

There’s a big correlation between people who have ADHD and people who have developed an eating disorder and this correlation has been proven over and over again in repeated studies. In a 2007 Harvard study the research noted 11% of women with ADHD developed an eating disorder (as opposed to 1% of the general population) Another study found individuals diagnosed with ADHD were 4 times more likely to develop an eating disorder.  Why? Multiple reasons!

1. The lack of dopamine in the brain means “dopamine seeking” activities will be more desirable - and consuming food is a dopamine producing activity.

2. The main way to treat ADHD is stimulant medication but that medication suppresses hunger cues and makes it difficult to recognize when you need to eat.

3. Some food that produces more of a “dopamine effect” are sugary

4. Attempts to control food, eating or body may be ways to cope when managing other aspects of life feels too overwhelming

5. Exercise really helps people physiologically who are trying to manage their ADHD/ but it can lead to over-use of exercise (obsessive use) as a means of controlling weight/body.

6. Impulsivity, sensory issues, and executive function issues combined can be barriers to a healthy relationship with food

7. Food restriction or obsessive exercising may also be extreme ways for a person to attempt to control their attention deficit issues without realizing this may be part of what is happening

I don’t think we talk about this enough.  Eating disorders are very difficult to treat and are often a tertiary issue that crops up as a result of the person trying to develop coping mechanisms. It’s a coping mechanism that’s gone sideways.

For many people, being able to look at their food behavior under a lens of ADHD, provides an explanation for some of those behaviors that may be hard to change. Once you understand this, you can start thinking of solutions that will actually work for you, rather than the prescribed methods that may not take into account the dopamine levels in your brain.

Finally in terms of treatment the research shows that some medications may be an appropriate help for some people. The rest of the research shows a combination of group and individual therapy is usually the key to successfully overcoming disordered eating. The research also shows using the principles of intuitive eating to be effective in reframing the relationship with food and building a healthier relationship with the body.

If you’re concerned about some of your food behavior and you’ve never talked with a clinician about it before, that’s a good place to start. Eating disorders of any type usually require specialized treatment. Looking for connections between ADHD and Disordered Eating may help you find solutions that have eluded you in the past. Always seek Professional Medical Treatment for any symptoms of disordered eating.