ADHD and Eating Disorders: Food Aversion, Sensory Issues & Hyperfixation

Up to 20% of young people with ADHD will develop an eating disorder. ADHD and eating disorders often overlap in ways that can make recovery more challenging. Impulsivity, sensory sensitivities, and low dopamine levels can lead to disordered eating behaviors like binge eating, purging, restricting food or avoiding meals altogether. With early diagnosis and a treatment plan that supports both ADHD and eating disorder symptoms, healing is possible.

Autism
Education

Published: Nov 26, 2025

Author

Rebecca Pacun

Clinically Reviewed By

Kim Anderson, PhD, CEDS

ADHD and Eating Disorders: Food Aversion, Sensory Issues & Hyperfixation

Sources

  1. Villa, F. M., Crippa, A., Rosi, E., Nobile, M., Brambilla, P., & Delvecchio, G. (2023). ADHD and eating disorders in childhood and adolescence: An updated minireview. Journal of Affective Disorders, 321, 265–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.10.016.
  2. Eating Disorder Hope (n.d.). ADHD as a co-occurring disorder with eating disorders. https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-for-eating-disorders/co-occurring-dual-diagnosis/adhd. Accessed 12 July 2024.
  3. Haurin, S. (2018, March 13). Understanding the link between ADHD and binge eating could point to new treatments. Duke Research Blog. https://researchblog.duke.edu/2018/03/13/binge-eating-disorder/.
  4. Attention Deficit Disorder Association (n.d.). ADHD and binge eating: How to build a healthy relationship with food. https://add.org/adhd-and-binge-eating/
  5. Pallanti, S., & Salerno, L. (2016). ADHD: The dark side of eating disorders. Evidence-Based Psychiatric Care, 2, 24-31. https://www.evidence-based-psychiatric-care.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/05_pallanti.pdf.
  6. Surman, C., Randall, E., & Biederman, J. (2006). Association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bulimia nervosa: Analysis of 4 case-control studies. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 67(3), 351-354. doi:10.4088/JCP.v67n0303.
  7. Curtin, C. , Pagoto, S., & Mick, E. (2013). The association between ADHD and eating disorders/pathology in adolescents: A systematic review. Open Journal of Epidemiology, 3(4), 193-202. doi: 10.4236/ojepi.2013.34028.

join our newsletter

Be the first to know about new trainings, publications and programs