Associations Between Core Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Both Binge and Restrictive Eating

Abstract

IntroductionIt is unclear whether core symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) relate to specific types of disordered eating and little is known about the mediating mechanisms. We investigated associations between core symptoms of ADHD and binge/disinhibited eating and restrictive eating behavior and assessed whether negative mood and/or deficits in awareness and reliance on internal hunger/satiety cues mediate these relationships.MethodsIn two independent studies, we used a dimensional approach to study ADHD and disordered eating. In Study 1, a community-based sample of 237 adults (72.6% female, 18–60 years [M = 26.8, SE = 0.6]) completed an online questionnaire, assessing eating attitudes/behaviors, negative mood, awareness, and reliance on internal hunger/satiety cues and ADHD symptomatology. In Study 2, 142 students (80.3% female, 18–32 years [M = 19.3, SE = 0.1]) were recruited to complete the same questionnaires and complete tasks assessing interoceptive sensitivity and impulsivity in the laboratory.ResultsIn each study, core symptoms of ADHD correlated positively with both binge/disinhibited and restrictive eating and negative mood mediated the relationships. Deficits in awareness and reliance on internal hunger/satiety signals also mediated the association between inattentive symptoms of ADHD and disordered eating, especially binge/disinhibited eating. The results from both studies demonstrated that inattentive symptoms of ADHD were also directly related to binge/disinhibited eating behavior, while accounting for the indirect pathways of association via negative mood and awareness and reliance on internal hunger/satiety signals.ConclusionThis research provides evidence that core symptoms of ADHD are associated with both binge/disinhibited eating and restrictive eating behavior. Further investigation of the role of inattentive symptoms of ADHD in disordered eating may be helpful in developing novel treatments for both ADHD and binge eating.

Associations between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and eating behaviors in early childhood

“…While studies have generally documented a relationship between greater ADHD symptoms and food approach behaviors, like food responsiveness, some studies have also found greater ADHD symptoms to be related to food avoidant behavior, such as food fussiness in children and restrictive eating in adults . Some of our findings also line up with these previous results in that we too found greater ADHD symptoms during preschool age were prospectively related to greater satiety responsiveness (a food avoidant behavior) from the preschool to early childhood period.…”

Eating behaviors, depression, and anxiety levels of pre bariatric surgery patients with obesity comorbid with or without Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

“…Our study and most earlier studies showed eating food in response to emotional distress correlated positively with ADHD in obese adults (Alfonsson et al., 2012, 2013; Pagoto et al., 2010). It is imaginable that to handle frustrations and negative affect resulting from the consequences of attention problems (eg poor work accomplishment) and/or impulsive reactions at the cost of planned objectives, people with ADHD could be into disordered eating (Kaisari et al., 2018). Notwithstanding, in overweight/obese children and adolescents Pauli‐Pott et al.…”

“…Binge eating was the most assessed eating pathology. Some studies have investigated direct and indirect pathways (Kaisari et al., 2018), mediators, and confounding factors between ADHD, comorbid disorders, and obesity. Some found the depression or binge eating as mediators of the relationship between ADHD and obesity (Cortese et al., 2013; de Zwaan, et al., 2011a, 2011b; Pagoto et al., 2009; Tong et al., 2017).…”

Neurocognitive findings in young adults with binge eating disorder

“…Research has suggested that impulsivity may be a core cognitive underpinning of BED (Kaisari, Dourish, Rotshtein, & Higgs, 2018). Impulsivity is a broad term referring to a disposition towards behaviours that are unduly hasty, risky, and that lead to undesirous outcomes (Grant & Chamberlain, 2014).…”