Do adults with ADHD show higher emotional eating than healthy controls?
Emotional eating — eating in response to stress, sadness, or boredom rather than hunger — appears to be more common in adults with ADHD. Research suggests that difficulties with emotional regulation and impulse control, which are core features of ADHD, may drive this pattern. A 2024 case-control study and a 2021 study in bariatric surgery candidates both found that adults with ADHD scored significantly higher on measures of emotional eating compared to those without ADHD.
What the research says
A 2024 case-control study directly compared 76 adults with ADHD to 69 healthy controls. The ADHD group scored significantly higher on the Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EEQ), with a large statistical difference (t = 5.39, p = 0.001) 5. The same study also found that adults with ADHD had lower cognitive flexibility, which may make it harder to resist emotional urges to eat 5.
A 2021 study of 100 severely obese patients preparing for bariatric surgery (50 with ADHD, 50 without) reported that those with ADHD had significantly greater emotional eating and susceptibility to hunger, along with higher depression and anxiety scores 9. Notably, the study found that major depression — not ADHD alone — was more strongly linked to disinhibition of eating control and binge eating disorder, suggesting that mood disorders may amplify emotional eating in ADHD 9.
A 2024 national survey in England of over 782 participants (including people with ADHD, supporters, and healthcare professionals) found that people with ADHD themselves frequently identified disordered eating as a health risk, though healthcare professionals mentioned it less often 10. This indicates that emotional eating is a recognized concern among adults with ADHD, even if it is not always discussed in clinical settings.
What to ask your doctor
- Could my ADHD symptoms be contributing to emotional eating or binge eating?
- Are there treatments — like therapy, medication, or lifestyle changes — that can help with both ADHD and emotional eating?
- Should I be screened for depression or anxiety, since these often co-occur with ADHD and can worsen emotional eating?
- What strategies can help me manage impulsive eating when I feel stressed or bored?
- Is there a specialist, such as a dietitian or a psychologist, who works with ADHD and eating behaviors?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about this topic and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.