Strategies Linking ADHD to Disrupted Eating Patterns and Solutions to Regain Dietary Balance
An ADHD diagnosis in adulthood can lead to a revelation that the condition was a contributing factor to previous struggles, including an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa. While there is no medical evidence indicating that ADHD directly causes an eating disorder, studies show that individuals with ADHD are nearly four times as likely as those without the condition to develop an eating disorder.
The link between ADHD and disordered eating habits can be attributed to several factors, including impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and executive dysfunction. Food decisions can be complicated for people with ADHD due to poor executive function skills, making them more likely to react to hunger cues without considering the consequences. This reactiveness can lead to impulsive decisions about food, contributing to disordered eating habits, particularly binge eating.
Margo Pumar, a San Francisco-based adult psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD and reproductive psychiatry, explains that while stress at home, attachment traumas, and abuse are more intrinsic to the development of eating disorders, there is evidence suggesting overlapping symptoms between certain eating disorders and ADHD. Karen Stewart, a clinical psychologist based in Huntsville, Alabama, adds that ADHD is not a deficit of attention but a disorder of difficulty regulating and directing attention with intention.
Research shows that the most common eating disorder in children and adolescents with ADHD is binge eating disorder, followed by bulimia nervosa. Some estimates suggest that a third of adults with binge eating disorder also have a history of ADHD.
To address the connection between ADHD and disordered eating habits, experts identify four common food-related patterns that ADHD often feeds into and offer tips on how to break them. Impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, executive dysfunction, and hyperfocus are at the heart of each pattern.
The first pattern involves procrastination when it comes to grocery shopping. People with ADHD may struggle with planning and time management tasks, making it challenging to stick to a grocery list and cook meals consistently. To overcome this, experts recommend simplifying the grocery list, sticking to familiar recipes, and using shortcut options to reduce cooking time and eliminate multistep activities.
Underfueling or even binge-eating later at night can occur when people with ADHD miss meals due to hyperfocus, causing energy levels to plummet. To avoid this, setting reminders to eat three to four hours after waking up and eating within that time frame is important.
Decision-making can be slowed down when presented with numerous options, leading to an overabundance of food choices affecting meal planning. Researching options beforehand, choosing the top three meal choices, or seeking recommendations from others can help alleviate this problem.
Lastly, the desire for stimulation from food can lead some individuals with ADHD to consume unhealthy, high-carb foods to experience a dopamine rush. This can be addressed by pairing carb-rich foods with proteins or fats for a more satisfying and nourishing snack.
If you are struggling with disordered eating patterns, it may be helpful to seek help from a licensed health professional who specializes in ADHD and/or eating disorders. Working with a registered dietitian and a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist can help you establish a healthier relationship with food, gain control over mealtime, and enjoy eating once again.
- The link between ADHD and eating disorders like anorexia nervosa can be attributed to factors such as impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and executive dysfunction.
- Food decisions can be challenging for people with ADHD due to poor executive function skills, leading to impulsive decisions about food and contributing to disordered eating habits like binge eating.
- Research indicates that the most common eating disorder in children and adolescents with ADHD is binge eating disorder, followed by bulimia nervosa, and that a third of adults with binge eating disorder may have a history of ADHD.
- To break the connection between ADHD and disordered eating habits, experts identify common food-related patterns like procrastination during grocery shopping, underfueling, decision paralysis due to overabundance of options, and the desire for stimulation from food.
- Addressing these patterns may involve simplifying the grocery list, setting mealtime reminders, researching meal options beforehand, choosing a limited number of meal choices, or pairing carb-rich foods with proteins or fats.
- If you are struggling with disordered eating patterns, it is beneficial to seek help from a licensed health professional who specializes in ADHD and/or eating disorders, such as a registered dietitian, therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist, to establish a healthier relationship with food, gain control over mealtime, and enjoy eating once again.
