Do adults with ADHD have higher emotional eating than healthy people?
Adults with ADHD often experience higher levels of emotional eating than people without the condition. This difference appears linked to challenges in managing emotions and controlling impulses. Studies comparing adults with ADHD to healthy controls consistently find that those with ADHD score higher on measures of emotional eating.
What the research says
A case-control study involving 76 adults with ADHD and 69 healthy controls found that the ADHD group had significantly higher scores on the Emotional Eating Questionnaire 1. The researchers noted that ADHD often co-occurs with eating disorders, potentially because both conditions involve shared difficulties in emotional regulation and executive functions 1.
Another study of severely obese patients found that those with ADHD had significantly greater emotional eating compared to those without ADHD 5. This group also showed less restraint in eating. The study concluded that ADHD is associated with emotional eating and susceptibility to hunger, though it noted that major depression also plays a strong role in these behaviors 5.
A separate study of 45 adults with ADHD and 45 controls found a significant positive correlation between ADHD symptom scores and emotional eating scores 7. Adults with ADHD in this group also had higher body mass index and waist circumference, suggesting a link between these eating behaviors and metabolic health 7.
What to ask your doctor
- How might my ADHD symptoms affect my relationship with food and emotional eating?
- What strategies can help me manage emotional eating alongside my ADHD treatment?
- Should I be screened for other conditions like depression or anxiety that might worsen emotional eating?
- Are there specific therapies or lifestyle changes that address both ADHD and emotional eating?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Psychiatry and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.