If you are one of the many adults starting to realise that they have ADHD now that it has come into the limelight somewhat, you may also have read that there is a strong link between ADHD and eating disorders. In this short article, I try to outline why this may be the case but do not talk about ADHD and fussy eating or phobias, which are a different topic (although could also be classified as disordered eating).
One study found that up to 12% of adults with ADHD developed eating disorders. The main eating disorders tended to be Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder or Loss of Control eating. Anorexia has also been cited but seems to be less common.
Often, there may be presence of disordered eating whereby somebody just cannot seem to get a hold of their eating habits, constantly snacking or not eating at all or going on faddy diets to try to contain their perceived disorderly eating patterns. Most of the time, with an eating disorder comes shame and embarrassment, a hatred of body image, sometimes a lifetime of it.
What these people may not realise is that their eating habits are not their fault. Although the science is still emerging, and it is not yet quite clear but there are several hypotheses for why there is strong relationship between eating disorders and ADHD. Let’s remember that those living with ADHD tend to have characteristics such as inattention, impulsivity and overactivity and ADHD and eating disorders are both linked to brain activity differences in areas that regulate impulse control, reward processing, and emotional responses.
Very often people with ADHD may have difficulty controlling their urges often in search of a dopamine boost, leading them to engage in disordered eating behaviours like binge eating or overeating. Impulsivity can also make it harder for individuals to stick to healthy eating habits or resist cravings.
Another thing to consider is some people with ADHD may struggle with appetite control due to imbalances in ghrelin, leptin, and insulin (our appetite hormones). Increased ghrelin boosts hunger, while leptin resistance makes it harder to feel full. Insulin resistance can cause blood sugar crashes, leading to cravings for sugar and carbs.
There are ways to help disordered eating patterns and it’s never too late to start. It may include lifestyle changes and more structured mealtimes amongst many other easy hacks. If you’d like to find out more, you can book a discovery call with me today.
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