Understanding The Connection Between ADHD And Eating Disorders
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health condition that impacts how a person takes in sensory information. It’s not uncommon for ADHD to be comorbid, or to co-occur, with other mental health conditions—including eating disorders. Both ADHD and eating disorders are considered treatable with the right kind of professional support. See below for more information on the ADHD-eating disorders connection, how symptoms of the two can interact with one another, and how therapy may be helpful in the recovery process.
What is ADHD, and how is it connected to eating disorders?
ADHD is a type of neurodivergence that is commonly diagnosed in childhood, with symptoms that can last into adulthood. Individuals may experience ADHD symptoms such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, and/or inattentiveness, which may lead to challenges with daily functioning, work and school responsibilities, relationships, and overall mental health and well-being. Difficulty regulating emotions and maintaining healthy self-esteem can also be caused or exacerbated by ADHD.
If a person who uses food to cope with emotions also has ADHD, impulsivity can make it difficult to stop eating or even to recognize that they are using food to manage emotions. Over time, a continued pattern of this behavior may increase one’s risk of developing binge eating disorder or other eating disorders related to difficulties with impulse control.
Which eating disorders are linked to ADHD?
Understanding which eating disorders are linked to ADHD and being able to recognize their symptoms can be beneficial. One reason is that you may potentially be able to identify signs of an eating disorder if you notice them in yourself and start working with a mental health professional to develop coping strategies sooner. As research suggests, early intervention for eating disorders may improve outcomes.
Although there are many eating disorders that may be connected to ADHD, the three most common are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. These disorders are considered serious and have the potential to significantly impact both mental and physical health.
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa (BN), also called bulimia, is characterized by two behaviors that occur back-to-back: binge eating, or overeating, followed by a period of purging food by vomiting or taking laxatives. With bulimia, a person may impulsively binge eat to feel better emotionally, only to realize how much they ate and purge the food from their system in an effort to “undo” it.
Individuals with ADHD may be at a higher risk of developing BN. Agan, this might be due to the challenges with impulse control and emotional regulation that are common symptoms of ADHD.
Binge-eating disorder
Severe binge eating disorder (BED) is similar to bulimia, but it lacks the purge stage. Individuals with binge-eating disorder may eat uncontrollably for a period of time in response to stress, anxiety, or negative emotions. Over time, binge eating can lead to obesity and weight-related health concerns.
Like BN, BED can relate to trouble with impulse control, making individuals with ADHD more susceptible. Rather than the brain telling the body to resist more food, there is no signal to stop. That, combined with the rush of dopamine from eating food, can make it hard to regulate consumption.
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a mental illness characterized by an obsession with food and body weight. Unlike with binge eating disorders such as bulimia and binge eating disorder, the connection between ADHD and anorexia is less concrete. However, studies suggest that there is still a comorbidity between the two.
There are two subtypes of anorexia: the restrictor type and the binge-and-purge type. Individuals with the restrictor subtype tend to restrict calories and food to lose weight, while those with the binge-and-purge subtype may eat food but subsequently purge to restrict the calories absorbed by the digestive system. The difference between individuals with the anorexia nervosa binge-and-purge subtype and individuals with bulimia is that individuals with bulimia may be at or above what’s considered a healthy body weight for their age and height, whereas individuals with anorexia are often dangerously below.
The binge-and-purge subtype may be linked to ADHD in a similar way to bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. An individual may eat too much due to lowered impulse control from ADHD, decide that they have eaten too much or feel ashamed, and force themselves to purge the food.
Treatment approaches for ADHD and co-occurring eating disorders
Treating ADHD and co-occurring eating disorders can be complex and is generally done in a multidisciplinary manner. A team including mental health professionals, nutritionists, and medical providers may be assembled and leaned on throughout treatment for advice and guidance.
More specifically, a team of doctors and dieticians can help the individual manage eating habits and any medications. During this process, a psychotherapist may also work with the individual on cognitive and behavioral interventions to help them identify and manage the mental and emotional aspects of living with these conditions. A therapist may also provide coping strategies the person can use on a daily basis. Examples may include cognitive techniques to help them replace the impulse to eat with another behavior and mindfulness strategies to help control impulses in general.
Seeking professional support
For individuals living with both ADHD and an eating disorder, finding the right therapist to work with—in tandem with receiving support from doctors and nutritionists—may be essential to success. However, it can sometimes be difficult to find a provider who is a good match in your area, and regularly commuting to and from appointments can be inconvenient or impossible for some. In cases like these, it may be easier to get started with online therapy, where you can meet with a licensed therapist virtually from home.
Research suggests that online therapy may be an effective approach when it comes to managing ADHD symptoms. Studies also indicate that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be an effective tool in helping manage an eating disorder over the long term.
Takeaway
Is there a connection between ADHD and eating disorders?
Yes, there is a connection between ADHD and eating disorders, and people with ADHD tend to develop eating disorders more frequently than people among the general population.The National Comorbidity Survey Replication, based on a nationally representative sample, found that ADHD might be an important risk factor for developing an eating disorder. A systematic review also found that ADHD is often comorbid with eating disorders. Adolescent girls are disproportionately affected by eating disorders, but an eating pathology can affect anyone no matter age or gender. If you notice eating disorder symptoms in yourself or another, such as significant weight loss, excessive exercise, preoccupation with body shape, recurrent binge eating episodes, eating disturbances, self induced vomiting, extreme obesity, or weight gain, or other harmful behaviors or negative consequences associated with food, it is important to seek out an eating disorder therapist or obesity treatment. You can also seek out an ADHD therapist for comorbid adhd. Psychotherapy is considered the first line treatment for both ADHD and eating disorders, although ADHD often also needs to be treated with medication, as well.
What medication is used for ADHD and eating disorders?
Certain ADHD medication for ADHD patients can also be used to treat binge eating. Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate is an ADHD stimulant medication that’s also been approved to treat binge eating disorder for adult eating disorder patients. It is the first FDA approved drug to be used for this purpose.
What deficiency causes binge eating disorder?
Binge eating episodes can be caused by a variety of factors, and one of them could be that a person is not getting enough essential micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. This could happen even if the person is consuming a lot of fats and carbohydrates. Poor nutrition, in turn, affects ADHD symptoms, so it is important to eat a balanced diet to manage both ADHD and binge eating. Calorie-rich associated lifestyles can contribute to poor nutrition intake. A study showed that people with obesity had a higher laboratory snack food intake of foods with high caloric content.
Why do people with ADHD crave food?
There are a few reasons why people with ADHD can crave food. Impulsive behavior and impaired executive function, two of the ADHD symptoms, can lead to eating impulsively or binging on food. It is important to seek therapeutic help for such disordered eating behaviors based on poor impulse control. It is not true that bulimia promotes impulse control—in fact it is often an effect of impulsive or compulsive behavior. It is important to seek therapeutic support to prevent binge eating and manage ADHD symptoms.
Do people with ADHD take longer to eat?
Some adults with ADHD may take longer to eat because they may be distracted by what’s going on around them and not focus on their meal. However, it is more likely that people with ADHD eat quickly. Childhood ADHD may make kids eat more slowly, as ADHD can make kids have disruptive patterns of eating.
What other disorders have a close connection between ADHD and eating disorders?
Certain eating disorders and ADHD are also associated with other mental disorders, or psychiatric disorders. For example, ADHD and bulimia nervosa co occurring with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorders (formerly called substance abuse) are some possible psychiatric comorbidities. It is also possible to experience two eating disorders at once. Someone who has bulimia might binge eat for a few days. Then, such a binge might lead someone to control eating or engage in other compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain to such an extent that they starve themselves.
What incites binge eating disorder?
In people with ADHD, binge eating may be a result of not being aware of hunger or fullness cues. It could also be a function of poor impulse control or a function of experiencing the dopamine response to instant gratification.
Does ADHD cause picky eaters?
Picky eating is not necessarily caused by ADHD, but a study by researchers at Duke University cites a correlation between ADHD and picky eating in children, as reported by Forbes.
Do people with ADHD like to cook?
Some people with ADHD like to cook, while others do not. Those who don’t like to cook may struggle with the focus that’s necessary to follow recipe instructions and become frustrated.
What foods are related to hyperfixation and ADHD?
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, hyperfixation is a psychiatric disorder noted as a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and hyperfixation on food means eating the same food or dish day after day. Foods that people with ADHD hyperfixate on often include comfort foods that include a lot of carbohydrates or sugar.
- Previous Article
- Next Article