Can Obesity Be Linked to ADHD? Here's What Science Says

Decades of studies have revealed a substantial link between excess weight and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in both children and adults. According to a 2019 study by PubMed Central, over 70% of adults and 40% of children with ADHD are overweight or obese compared to those who do not have ADHD. While it is uncertain if persons with ADHD are obese because of their ADHD or vice versa, some variables may contribute to both. ADHD and higher BMI are linked by a complicated combination of genetics and behavior, such as eating habits, exercise, and sleep patterns.

In the 2019 evaluation approach, genetic changes associated with ADHD may influence environmental variables that culminate in obesity. A similar neurological foundation may also underpin hereditary factors for ADHD and a higher BMI, according to the review. However, researchers stress that further study on genetic links linking ADHD and fat, including probable gender variations, is required.

Who Are at Risk To Become Obese?

A 2020 study of over 780,000 mother-child pairs found that children of moms who were overweight before pregnancy had a higher risk of obesity and ADHD. The researchers also hypothesized that comparable genetic mechanisms and environmental variables, such as eating habits, have a role in both illnesses, as per International Journal of Epidemiology.

The study adds that persons with ADHD are less physically active, eat less healthful foods, and have higher BMIs than people without ADHD. This may appear paradoxical, but those who understand ADHD understand why the link makes sense: the symptoms of ADHD that make it difficult to focus in school, excel at work, or maintain one's relationships also make it extremely difficult to eat well and exercise regularly.

ADHD Variables That Contribute to Obesity

Executive Function Deficiencies: Keeping your weight under control necessitates strong executive functioning abilities, which are required for anything from planning nutritious food to adhering to that daily run. People with ADHD have inherently lower executive skills, which makes the beginning and sticking to a good daily schedule much more difficult, according to AdditudeMag.

Impulsivity: Although ADHD and impulsive behavior are not synonymous, those who suffer from it are well aware of the detrimental effects it may have on health. Every day, we are assaulted with enticing (high-fat, high-sugar, high-carb) food. Most individuals can successfully regulate their food-related desires, such as saying no to a daily donut at the coffee shop while people with ADHD-related impulsivity cannot.

Poor Sensory Awareness: Interoceptive awareness allows us to detect what's going on within our bodies, whether it's hunger signals, thirst cues, or physical exhaustion. A person with ADHD, on the other hand, is oriented outward, always searching for the following source of stimulus. As a response, he may have difficulty paying attention to and understanding what her body is communicating to her. Anyone with ADHD seems to be more prone to misinterpret dehydration (or boredom, or weariness) as hungry, and will frequently resort to food to satisfy that ambiguous internal need.

Poor Sleeping Routines: A brain that is continually whirling will find it difficult to "shut down" at the end of each day and try to sleep, so it's no wonder that ADHD is associated with fitful or disrupted sleep. Furthermore, a plethora of data indicate that sleep loss is a major contributor to obesity. When we are sleep deprived, our brains emit chemicals that cause us to overeat, particularly unhealthy meals heavy in fat and sugar. Concurrently, our metabolism slows as our bodies try to save fat. This is an adaptive legacy from our caveman past when lack of sleep meant hunger, but in current times, it ends badly for sleep-deprived ADHD individuals.

Procrastination: An ADHD propensity to avoid dull work by eating instead has been labeled "procrastinating." Picking, queuing for, and consuming a cheesy pizza is immensely more intriguing to the ADHD mind than writing a term paper. As a result, munching becomes an appealing albeit a harmful form of procrastination.

Low Neurotransmitter Levels: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that may be traced back to neurotransmitters in the brain. Dopamine and GABA levels are low in the brains of patients with ADHD. Dopamine controls and encourages wakefulness; low dopamine levels result in a sleepy, "bored" brain. Inhibition is controlled by GABA. A person with appropriate quantities of these neurotransmitters is usually able to resist consuming an entire box of cookies.

Obesity Amongst ADHD Patients

Obesity has been linked to ADHD in adults for at least 20 years, according to research. Insights regarding how these linkages occur in adulthood have not been reached. In investigations of young ADHD and fat, the results have been less apparent. The behavioral factors and symptoms associated with both ADHD as well as obesity require more investigation.

The greatest method for persons with ADHD to help themselves is to first get a professional ADHD diagnosis. This will aid in the provision of opportunities and assistance with therapies and ADHD treatment, if necessary. Once a patient has gotten assistance for an initial ADHD diagnosis, several of the behaviors linked with ADHD and obesity, such as the link between impulsive conduct and binge eating habits, can be recognized.

Improved eating patterns, improved food preferences, more physical exercise, and improved sleeping patterns are just a few examples. These practices can aid in weight loss as well as the reduction of inflammation within the body as well as the brain, according to Psych Central.

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