ADHD and Eating Disorders: A Healing Guide for Neurodivergent Folks
In the U.S., more than 15 million adults have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Beyond that, around 73 percent of folks with ADHD exhibit at least one co-occurring mental health condition, too.
In fact, eating disorder behaviors are 3.8 times more prevalent among those with ADHD. There are a few possible reasons for this heightened risk—one being that ADHD is characterized by low dopamine regulation in the brain, which often leads to the same compulsive actions that eating disorders thrive on.
Here’s what you need to know about the connection between ADHD and eating disorders. Plus, why it’s beneficial to approach recovery through the unique lens of neurodivergence.
How ADHD and Eating Disorders Intersect
About 12 percent of folks with ADHD meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder. While the eating disorder can begin in adolescence, it can also manifest later in life, with a frequent overlap between ADHD and binge eating disorder (BED), bulimia, and anorexia purge-type.
Meanwhile, new research in the Journal of Eating Disorders has also found a strong correlation between ADHD and avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), a form of eating disorder caused by extreme aversion to the sensory elements of food or the fear of a scary outcome after eating certain foods (choking, vomiting, or feeling sick).
Because neurodivergent folks are often highly sensitive to the specific tastes, smells, textures, or appearance of food, those with ADHD might lack an interest in eating, the journal continues. So, while ARFID doesn’t stem from weight control behaviors or body image distortions, it can be just as harmful to a person’s well-being as any other eating disorder.
Potential Causes of the ADHD and ED Overlap
From impulsivity and sensory sensitivities to emotional regulation challenges and executive functioning struggles, there are many ways these two conditions can intersect. Understanding this overlap is key to providing compassionate, effective support and care.
Impulsivity and Inattention: Many folks with ADHD have a hard time paying attention to their inner hunger and fullness cues, which can result in food restriction or impulsive, uninhibited eating habits, suggests the Psychological Medicine Journal.
Dopaminergic Dysfunction: Both ADHD and certain eating disorders (particularly BED, anorexia, and bulimia) are characterized by insufficient dopamine pathways in the brain’s frontal lobe, according to the Nature Neuroscience Journal. This can affect your reward processing, decision-making, and emotional regulation, which could influence you to use food as a coping mechanism or a source of stimulation.
Sensory Processing Issues: Those with ADHD are more likely to overreact to sensory input than other folks, the Brain Imaging and Behavior Journal explains. This can make it difficult to process certain tastes, smells, and textures, causing you to form compulsive food rituals, selective dietary patterns, or sheer disinterest in eating.
Practical Strategies to Start Healing
ADHD and eating disorders may often overlap one another, but that doesn’t mean you have to continue suffering. Here are a few action steps you can take to combat those harmful behaviors, create more balanced eating habits, and heal your relationship with food.
In ADHD and Eating Habits—Plus, Simple Solutions to Overcome Challenges, Ellen Biemiller, MS, CNS, LDN, who works specifically with ADHD folks, shares some practical strategies specific to common challenges you may be facing.
Difficulty sensing hunger and fullness cues: Set phone reminders or add meal times to your calendar so you don’t forget to eat.
Overwhelm with food: Keep it simple—complexity is not required to make nourishing meals! Simple is perfectly fine, especially if that’s the easiest way for you to create a meal.
Hyperfixation: Focus on how you can add more nutrients to the food you’re fixated on. “Pairing that cereal with protein (e.g., eggs or a protein smoothie on the side) or healthy fats (like nut butter on toast or some ground flax seeds sprinkled over the cereal) will help provide sustained energy and satisfaction,” says Biemiller.
Picky eating: Prioritize safe foods while still making sure to get all your important macronutrients (fat, carbs, and protein).
Find a Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapist
There’s no shame in needing the help of a mental health professional to create a healthier, more sustainable relationship with food. If this is the case, look for a neurodiversity-affirming therapist—ideally one who specializes in ADHD.
Neurodiversity-affirming care (NDA) is a holistic framework that rejects the notion that there’s one normal type of brain function everyone should aspire to. Instead of trying to “fix” neurodivergence, an NDA therapist will adjust the treatment plan to account for your unique needs, traits, sensitivities, or processing abilities.
Here are some directories you can use to find neurodivergent-affirming mental health support:
Eating Disorders Are Common with ADHD, But Healing Is Possible
The intersection between ADHD and eating disorders is complex, with a variety of neurological, behavioral, and emotional nuances to account for. But once you understand the risk factors and learn to identify the signs, you can seek out practical strategies and therapeutic interventions for recovery.
At Project HEAL, we help remove the financial barriers to eating disorder treatment so you can access affordable care from a clinician who affirms neurodiversity and knows how to tailor the healing process to work for you. Apply for help today!
