ADHD Aha! | ADHD and eating disorders

Dr. Roberto Olivardia returns to the show to talk about ADHD and eating disorders in this bonus episode. He explains the different types of eating disorders - and why ADHD and eating disorders, like binge-eating disorder (BED), often co-occur. Dr. Olivardia shares how ADHD symptoms like impulsivity play a role in eating disorders. He also talks about treatment options and what to do if you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder and needs support.
To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. www.understood...
We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [e-mail].
Understood.org is a resource dedicated to shaping the world so the 70 million people in the U.S. with learning and thinking differences can thrive. Learn more about ADHD Aha! and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts. Copyright © 2023 Understood for All, Inc. All rights reserved. Understood is not affiliated with any pharmaceutical company.

[@gabbyf23]

I have bad binge eating disorder & I fully believe it’s because of always needing to seek dopamine from ADHD. I am currently undiagnosed, but people in my life who are very educated on the matter believe that I have it. I’m wanting to get an assessment done, but I’m scared of being told I don’t actually have an answer to my problem. Then that just leaves me in the dark once again. I’m also scared by the fact that I keep gaining weight rapidly. I’ve tried everything to treat my eating disorder, but I always fall back on it.
I also constantly forget to set up appointments/go to them. The amount of effort it feels to make appointments is crazy and not at all normal. I just want to be treated effectively and feel that I have answers that can be solved.

[@mosaicsanctuary3]

As someone who had an eating disorder and didn’t know I had adhd in the early 90s and I was in my early twenties, I got some counselling which helped me feel like I wasn’t alone. If you don’t have access to this, use youtube to learn as much as you can to learn about how to start accepting and loving yourself. For me, shame and low self esteem was a huge part of the puzzle that perpetuated my eating disorder. The more we can calm our nervous system and calm our anxiety with self love helps a ton. Love yourself! Secondly, learn to eat more protein to help regulate your blood sugar and stop the triggers and the binging. Once I learned how to nourish myself with food instead of beat myself up, I started to heal. This was all more than a decade before I found out I had ADHD. There is so much support online now. You got this ❤

[@K000H]

Anyone else too distracted and forgetful to eat? I wish i could just transfer the food directly to my stomach in a second and not go through the hassle of thinking, preparing, eating and cleaning. I'm slightly underweight and the only time i can maintain eating like a normal person is when i have the day off and i use the whole day for watching movies. Other than those days, i barely get 2 meals in.

[@mohammedajmal273]

Damn your lucky my ADHD makes me eat all the time even when I don't want to

[@K000H]

@@mohammedajmal273 Wouldn't say any of us are lucky but okay. I'm literally not allowed any adhd medication as it could be dangerous for me to lose any more weight. Being underweight is just as fun as being overweight, i'm assuming.
Grass is always greener on the other side, as they say.

[@a444-]

i have the same thing! i actually went through a phase in my teens where i would forget to eat / not be able to focus enough on making food and then my blood sugar would get so low towards the evening that i would start craving sweet stuff like crazy and then “binge” on anything sugary that we had in the house (which was at best granola or honey). i would literally eat sugar cubes if there was nothing else… this developed later on into anorexia . now i’m mostly recovered, but eating and meal prepping is very hard for me. i mostly eat the same foods that don’t require a lot of preparation, like yoghurt bowls and toast. i try to make them as nutritious as possible, but i know that i’m probably still malnourished. so you’re definitely not alone, even if this is not as common❤️

[@kyrat6079]

Yeah, and then if I don't eat for long enough then I get nauseaus or shaky or get a bad headache which makes me want to eat food even less

[@thelichdumbbih]

Yup. Dealing with it rn, explains why I'm here. I won't eat if I don't crave it, eating is a chore

[@BigWill2k]

Thank you someone finally gets it!

[@emiemmyemi]

Im anorexic binge purge subtype with adhd. Great watch, lots of good info and easy to take in 👍

[@ElowenFaye]

Same. I have anorexia b/p subtype for 12 years now (I'm 31). It's living hell, I b/p ~6 hours every day (and at the same time it's the only thing that excites me, it's sad I know). Also i was diagnosed with adhd. Have you found something that helped you with your ED while also considering the adhd background? I'm really so discouraged and frustrated at this moment. Nothing helps and I feel like I'm wasting my life :(

[@fawnallen9361]

So interesting !!!!! Really put a light on my issues which I have never understood

[@Appleloucious]

One Love!
Always forward, never ever backward!!
☀️☀️☀️
💚💛❤️
🙏🏿🙏🙏🏼

[@dawn8288]

I have ASD and,ADHD,and I have a ,” see food” diet.😳

[@stevenrobinson1597]

Got excited when you said shoplifting ?

[@mayamariebailey]

Omg I also did that