ADHD and Eating Disorders: Statistics & Trends

ADHD is highly linked to an eating disorder according to a study. Statistics say that women with ADHD are 3.6 times more likely to develop an eating disorder than their non diagnosed counterparts. 10.4% of people diagnosed with ADHD in the study were later diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. Eating disorders are most often found in people with personality traits including perfectionism and obsessive compulsive disorder. When ADHD and eating disorders are diagnosed simultaneously, it becomes difficult to cure both at once, but it is not entirely impossible. Psychopathology was a known consequence of the extreme episodes combatted with the eating disorder. The presence of ADHD increased the frequency of the eating disorder and how severe the purges became. Some observed causes of eating disorders amongst women with ADHD resulted from peer rejection and harmful parent/child relationships. Results from having been diagnosed with both ADHD and an eating disorder include anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and even bipolar disorder. Having a strong family relationship and being able to control impulses helps to combat the hyperactivity. A positive self image is also essential to eliminating the need to act on those hyperactive impulses to create a new self. Reaching out for help is the most important step when fighting both an eating disorder and ADHD.

Key Points:

  • 1Eating disorders commonly occur with other mental illnesses, like ADHD.
  • 2ADHD is one of the most frequently diagnosed childhood disorders.
  • 3Both disorders share common personality traits such as obsessive-compulsiveness and perfectionism.


As with all instances in which eating disorders co-occur, treating both at once can be challenging but not impossible
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Written by HealthStatus
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

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