Since those with ADHD are sensory-seeking individuals, food can supply a high dose of sensory stimulation. Biological and genetic factors can also predispose people with ADHD to become obese. Serotonin and dopamine are two of several neurotransmitters in the brain that are implicated in ADHD.
Someone with ADHD is four times more likely to become obese than is someone without ADHD. Brain chemistry, poor impulse control, difficulty organizing shopping and preparing meals, and erratic sleeping habits all conspire to encourage unhealthy eating — and to make weight loss feel or be impossible.
What you may not know is that excessive body weight is unusually prevalent among people who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). And, given their impulsivity and their often-erratic eating habits, people with ADHD have an unusually difficult time losing excess weight once they've gained it.
Several studies have shown that those with ADHD are prone to obesity and find it hard to lose weight. This is not surprising. Adults with ADHD aren't always aware of their food intake. Many eat while doing another activity — watching television, say, or even driving — so they lose track of the calories they consume.
ADHD is linked with the development of low self-esteem. 4 Low self-esteem can make it even more challenging to meet new people and make friends. You might not have the confidence to put yourself out there. Maybe you don't think anyone would want to be your friend, which can hold you back from making connections.
While all kinds of people can fall in love, the experience of people with ADHD falling in love can be more intense for them. This is because the person with ADHD can hyperfocus on the person they are in love with.
Girls with ADHD can have a hard time making friends. They might have a lot of energy and not be good at taking turns. They may be too loud or aggressive. And girls with the “inattentive” type of ADHD may miss social cues, like how to react to other people or join a group.
This translated in an increased pooled prevalence of obesity by about 70% in adults with ADHD (28.2%, 95% CI = 22.8–34.4) compared with those without ADHD (16.4%, 95% CI = 13.4–19.9), and by about 40% in children with ADHD (10.3%, 95% CI = 7.9–13.3) compared with those without ADHD (7.4%, 95% CI = 5.4–10.1).
If you're trying to lose weight with ADHD, routine is key. It can be helpful to identify what time you're going to eat main meals (and snacks if they're part of your plan). Setting an alarm in your phone to remind you to eat at your set times can be helpful. Time restricted eating can support weight loss.
There's also evidence that people with ADHD tend to gravitate toward junk foods, especially food that is high in sugar. This may be because high-sugar foods stimulate the release of dopamine. People with ADHD have lower levels of dopamine. As such, they may be more “wired” to seek dopamine out.
This is the stereotype, anyway. But the reality is that ADHD (particularly the inattentive type) might just as easily be a lumbering Panda or Garfield the cat. In fact, ADHD does not automatically bring with it calorie-burning energy and a sleek physique.
People with ADHD may not be as aware of or focused on their eating habits. They may not recognize when they're hungry during the day, for example, and then end up overeating later on. They may also not pay attention to when they're full, and keep on eating. There appears to be a genetic link.
Some of the common foods that can cause ADHD reactions include milk, chocolate, soy, wheat, eggs, beans, corn, tomatoes, grapes, and oranges. If you suspect a food sensitivity may be contributing to your child's ADHD symptoms, talk to your ADHD dietitian or doctor about trying an elimination diet.
Stimulant medications are the most likely of all ADHD treatment methods to decrease feelings of hunger and cause disordered eating. Your appetite drops with ADHD meds because the drug boosts dopamine production in your brain, a hormone that tells your body when you're full.
Other sleep problems reportedly associated with ADHD in children and/or adults include early and middle insomnia, nocturnal awakening, nocturnal activity, snoring, breathing difficulties, restless sleep, parasomnias, nightmares, daytime sleepiness, delayed sleep phase, short sleep time and anxiety around bedtime ( ...
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the medications used to treat it are associated with obesity. Stimulants lead to weight loss, while antipsychotics and antidepressants lead to weight gain.
By their final weigh in, people treated with ADHD medication lost on average about 12% of their body weight (about 15kg), while the controls gained an average of about 3% of their body weight (about 3kg).
In an older study from 2006, researchers noted that adults with childhood ADHD had an increased risk of receiving certain personality disorders in later life. These include antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder.
Individuals with ADHD often experience social difficulties, social rejection, and interpersonal relationship problems as a result of their inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Such negative interpersonal outcomes cause emotional pain and suffering.
They may find it challenging to make and keep friends because of their brain's executive functioning impairment. The brain's executive control manages their ability to wait their turn, avoid getting distracted, direct their actions, control their emotions, and use their working memory to respond in social settings.
When you begin to date someone, you may be showered with gifts, compliments, and attention; you may feel pressured to commit too quickly. This behavior is called idealizing, or “love bombing.”