Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a widely recognized neurodevelopmental condition and one of the most prevalent of its kind. It is a disorder characterised by impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. Recent studies have proven that 20% of children with ADHD also develop eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. It is defined by inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. ADHD often occurs alongside various other conditions, including eating disorders (EDs).In this article, we will discuss ADHD and eating disorders.
People suffering from ADHD have symptoms such as sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and some learning disabilities.
In children who are aged up to 16 years, six or more symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity must be present for at least six months.
Individuals with ADHD frequently experience a complicated relationship with food. Eating habits of people having ADHD could put them at risk of developing an eating disorder later in life. There are many nutrition issues in people with ADHD, which are the following:
People who have disordered eating patterns are at more risk of developing ADHD. People who consume snacks and sweet foods instead of fruits and vegetables are more likely to develop issues. Eating in this manner is common in people with binge eating disorder (BED). A late-night sugary snack can easily escalate into a binge.
Some mothers are very restricted in giving their children foods like gluten, eggs, or soy to help ease ADHD symptoms. Children must have knowledge of the ingredients in each item before eating and develop rules about what is good and bad.
Individuals with ADHD are highly sensitive to the taste, smell, and texture of food. These children can categorise foods into good and bad groups.
People suffering from ADHD have irregularity with the interoceptive sense, due to which the brain interprets signals and cues from the rest of the body. For example, signals transmitted to the brain about thirst, hunger, or pain may be distorted in a person who struggles with ADHD. A child who are unable to recognise when they are hungry and full may eat abnormally, under-eat or overeat, or develop food aversions in response to a malfunction with their interoceptive signal.
People having ADHD have apparent symptoms such as restlessness, inability to concentrate, or impulsiveness. These symptoms are the cause of eating disorders. Some main eating disorders due to ADHD are the following:
People with binge eating disorder (BED) eat large amounts of food but don’t purge those meals. They are often overweight due to this behaviour. Impulsivity is a factor, as individuals with ADHD often struggle to resist tempting foods. However, researchers also say that some people with ADHD have unusual brain responses to food, which makes their meals more rewarding than they are to others. They may eat because it brings them intense pleasure.
Bulimia is characterised by cycles of bingeing in which the person eats a large amount of food. Bingeing and inappropriate compensatory behaviours must occur at least once a week for three months to satisfy a diagnosis. Self-evaluation based on body shape and weight is common. Individuals with bulimia often struggle with a negative perception of their body image.
Anorexia is an obsessive-compulsive eating disorder defined by restriction of energy intake, leading to significantly low body weight (in the context of what is minimally expected for age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health). The disorder is not as prevalent in people with ADHD as the impulsive eating disorders.
With anorexia, there is either an intense fear of gaining weight or of becoming fat, or persistent behaviour that interferes with weight gain. Anorexia is accompanied by body image distortion – including disturbances in the way one’s body weight or shape is experienced; body weight or shape influences self-evaluation, or there’s a continuous inability to recognize the severity of their low body weight.
Various studies have shown that individuals with ADHD are three to six times more likely to develop eating disorders compared to non-ADHD individuals. Research has shown that bulimia is more prevalent among adolescent girls with ADHD than their non-ADHD counterparts, with girls with ADHD being 3.6 times more likely to develop bulimia nervosa or BED.
If you have eating disorders, you may experience the following health issues:
There are many types of ADHD risk factors for eating disorders. Some main risk factors are as follows:
Behavioural Factors
Treatment for an eating disorder is multimodal. It includes a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, nutritionists, and family therapists. For individuals with ADHD, treatment approaches should be tailored to their specific symptoms and leverage their unique strengths.
Managing ADHD isn’t easy, especially when it comes to impulsive behaviours that often spill into eating habits. That’s where Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) steps in. It’s a practical, hands-on approach that helps people understand and manage their thought patterns. For adults with ADHD, CBT can make a world of difference not just in controlling impulsivity, but also in building better habits around food, emotions, and daily decision-making. It’s like giving your brain the tools it needs to work smarter, not harder. Learn more about how CBT supports adults with ADHD here.
Stimulant treatment can help manage eating behaviours in individuals with ADHD and an eating disorder.
Studies have shown that there is a link between ADHD and eating disorders, such as bulimia and BED. ADHD does not seem to be linked with anorexia, likely because overeating is impulsive in nature, whereas undereating involves restrictive behaviours. In addition to talk therapy, the medication lisdexamfetamine dimesylate can be effective in treating ADHD and BED. If a person has symptoms of ADHD or an eating disorder, they should contact a doctor.