Binge Eating Disorder With ADHD

[JoyADell]

Does anyone with an ADHD diagnosis also suffer from Binge Eating Disorder? If so do you have any tips on how to control impulsive eating?

[SofaJockey]

Hi JoyADell ,

on your specific question, the admins aren't medics but I hope someone may have an opinion.

I notice there appear to many posts on the topic all over the internet, but it's worth taking care of course that the advice shared is helpful.

I guess I might have been diagnosed with ADHD as a child if that was a thing people did 40 years ago, so I'm going to throw in this thought: I got very detailed and focused measuring my weight and what I was eating (and running - Couch to 5k) as a way of directing my 'obsessions' into positive impulses rather than eating impulses, but that's just me.

As this appears to be your first post, I thought I'd share some key things to know. 😄

All of the information you need about the forum can be found in Pinned Posts healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

You're very welcome to join some or all the Events, Challenges and Clubs that we run, especially the weigh-in and the daily diary (pinned at the right of the page on a computer or scrolling to the bottom on a phone).

If you haven't already taken it, here's a tour of the forum healthunlocked.com/?tour=true

I hope you'll find this a helpful place where you'll want to actively participate as that can be a helpful key to successful weight loss and, of course, it's a good way to get to know people, find inspiration and share support and encouragement.

Best success with it. 😄

[Jared71]

Hi JoyAdelI have a grown up son with ADHD.

Binge eating has not been a problem for him but I get completely why it would be for many with the condition.

Really am very sorry you have it.

I can't give you any advice I'm afraid. I am no expert despite trying my best to become one.

But I wanted to write you something to say how much I admire you for asking the question and for trying to live with it.

I think you are inspiring and you have made me determined to carry on with my own little fight.

I hope you find the advice you are looking for.

But well done for being who you are.

👏👏👏👏👏

[Hidden]

Hi Part of my job I am retired now but I used to look after people with ADHD. Remember i am not a doctor but usually its because you have to be busy all the time so when you have nothing to occupy yourself with you turn to food. Putting the food into your mouth keeps your hands doing something. Its like when people give up smoking the first thing they say is I don't know what to do with my hands. How you stop that I wish I had the answer. I would recommend you replace the eating with something else. I don't know your circumstances so cant say what. The next time you feel like bingeing come on this site and send someone a post instead. Hope you get the help you need its not easy I know.

[PippiRuns 6kg Restart Nov 2023]

My 17-year old son has ADHD. He tends to forget to eat because the medication he is on works as an appetite suppressant.

[JoyADell in reply to PippiRuns]

My medication I am on does that a little bit but the problem is I don't need to be hungry to eat. I eat because I'm bored, sad, anxious, and various other reasons.

[TheAwfulToad Visitor]

I would deal with these things one at a time - there's no obvious reason why they should be connected.

"Binge Eating Disorder" is very much over-diagnosed. It's a thing, but the elephant in the room is that BED symptoms are a subset of the symptoms of metabolic syndrome (ie., a purely physiological issue). When metabolic syndrome goes untreated, or when people are (incorrectly) told that their physical signs and symptoms are caused by "eating too much" and similar nonsense, people develop faulty rationalisations for their objectively-strange behaviour (eg., "I'm bingeing because I'm a bad, gluttonous person"). Clinicians reinforce those rationalisations, and the end result is an honest-to-goodness neurosis.

I suggest making a concerted effort to fix your diet; this will almost certainly modify your behaviour to the point where you can address any remaining psychological issues with relative ease.

You may not be aware that there's anything about your diet that needs fixing, because you're almost certainly eating what everyone else eats. If you don't mind disclosing what your typical meals look like, I can perhaps offer some suggestions. Don't worry, I'm not going to suggest you go hardcore vegan or attempt to subsist on sunshine and water; a few tweaks in the right places should help a lot.

ADHD I don't have a lot of experience with, except to note that this is also somewhat overdiagnosed because a high level of activity and a short attention span is the human norm (sitting still and being abnormally focused is likely to get you an ASD diagnosis; the brackets around what's "normal" are getting closer and closer together). Depending on exactly how it manifests in your case, you may be able to channel it to your advantage - for example, by seeking a career or lifestyle that demands what your personality offers.