ADHD and Its Effects on Eating Habits
Many people recognize the common symptoms of ADHD and how they can impact concentration and focus. The disorder can create issues in school for kids and young adults, and impact careers and relationships as adults.
But other areas of life are also often affected by ADHD — including eating habits.
While ADHD doesn’t change your dietary needs, it can change the way you think about food and your behaviors around eating. While some of those behaviors are harmless, others can potentially lead to health risks and trigger other mental health issues.
So, how does ADHD impact your eating habits?
The Need for Stimulation
People with ADHD need stimulation to stay involved, focused, and engaged. When you’re stimulated about something, you’re more likely to pay attention and even be excited about it. So, it’s not uncommon for people with the disorder to seek constant stimulation to improve their focus.
Many stimuli also provide dopamine to the brain. That’s the chemical responsible for making you feel happy. Things like music, sex, competition, and exercise are all things people use to find that stimulation. For those with ADHD, risky behaviors can also often be added to that list. It’s not uncommon for someone with ADHD to want to chase a natural high, so they might do things like driving fast or buying a motorcycle.
When it comes to eating habits, food is another type of stimulus. Because people with ADHD are looking for stimulation, they might overeat in an attempt to satisfy their brain’s needs.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for overeating to become habitual. The brain might start to lose focus or be unaware of the habits. So they become more consistent. That can lead to issues like binge eating, extreme weight gain, and other physical health problems.
Disordered and Difficult Eating
It’s also not uncommon for people with ADHD to experience disordered eating. All of us know we should maintain a healthy diet, and that’s not always easy. No one is perfect, and we all give in to comfort foods or special treats once in a while.
But, it’s very difficult for someone with ADHD to maintain a meal plan. They can lose focus quickly, give into temptation, or seek out the foods that boost dopamine levels — typically ones that aren’t considered healthy.
Again, while most of us “give in” to temptation with food sometimes, it tends to be more problematic for people with ADHD because they can have difficulty with self-regulation and self-control. So, while someone without the disorder might be satisfied with one piece of cake, someone with ADHD might go back for seconds or thirds because they can’t regulate their consumption.
Poor Awareness
Finally, it’s not always easy for people with ADHD to be aware of normal hunger cues. The average person knows when they’re hungry and when they’re full. Those internal cues aren’t as obvious for someone with this disorder.
That can lead to irregular eating patterns that aren’t good for the mind or body. If someone isn’t able to recognize that they feel hungry, they might go too long without eating. If they aren’t able to recognize when they’re satiated, they might end up overeating or binge eating until they’re mentally satisfied.
Unfortunately, the effects of eating caused by ADHD can be harmful and negatively impact your life. If you or someone you know is dealing with ADHD and it’s created disordered eating habits, you’re not alone.
Reach out to a mental health professional for help through ADHD treatment. You don’t have to live with the effects of disordered eating forever because of ADHD. With the right help and determination, you can develop useful strategies to form healthy eating habits for years to come.