ADHD and Binge Eating Treatment, Online Nutrition Therapy
\We know eating disorders can be incredibly difficult to navigate on their own; however, most of the time, those struggling with eating disorders are also dealing with co-occurring conditions. Often, we see eating disorders linked to anxiety, depression, or OCD. More recently, research has shown a strong link between ADHD and binge eating disorder.
While an ADHD diagnosis is not always linked to eating concerns, recent studies show that around 30% of individuals with binge eating disorder also qualify for a possible ADHD diagnosis.
The link between ADHD and Binge Eating Symptoms
Though there are many symptoms associated with ADHD, some of the most common and universal include impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. Those with ADHD often struggle with executive function tasks like planning ahead, time management, and prioritizing. Meanwhile, BED is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating, in which a person consumes a large amount of food while feeling like they can’t control their compulsion to do so.
Common triggers for a binge episode include food restriction, going long periods without eating, skipping meals, or emotional dysregulation. Understanding this, it is very possible that ADHD symptoms can increase the risk for binge eating. For someone who struggles to plan ahead for mealtimes and regulate their emotions, the chance for impulsive eating later in the day can rise significantly. Furthermore, those with ADHD often struggle with attunement to hunger and fullness cues throughout the day, resulting in altered eating patterns.
ADHD and Binge Eating: A Hidden Connection Many Don’t See
If you’ve ever wondered why managing food feels especially tough when you’re also living with ADHD, you're not alone. There's a real, meaningful connection between ADHD symptoms and binge eating disorder (BED) — and it often gets overlooked.
ADHD isn’t just about distraction.
While it’s known for things like impulsivity, restlessness, and inattention, ADHD also messes with something called executive function. That’s the brain’s ability to plan, prioritize, manage time, and follow through — you know, all the things you need to keep life (and meals) on track.
BED (Binge Eating Disorder)
Involves episodes of eating large amounts of food, usually quickly and in secret, often while feeling totally out of control. Afterwards, guilt and shame tend to follow, not just because of what was eaten, but because of how powerless it felt.
Here’s where the overlap starts to make sense:
When you have ADHD, you might forget to eat. Or get so hyper-focused on work or a project that lunchtime just... disappears.
Maybe you didn’t mean to skip meals, but by the time you realize it, you’re starving and anything in the fridge is fair game.
Or, you might be riding an emotional wave — frustration, anxiety, boredom — and without even thinking, you’re halfway through a bag of chips before you catch your breath.
Some common binge eating triggers:
Skipping meals or going too long without eating
Restrictive dieting or labeling foods as “off-limits”
Emotional overload — especially when coping skills are low and dopamine is low too
Sensory-seeking behavior (which is common in ADHD)
People with ADHD often have a hard time tuning into their body’s hunger and fullness signals. That can lead to erratic eating patterns or bingeing later in the day when the body gets over-hungry then overcompensates for the irregular eating.
ADHD and Binge Eating Treatment with ED Dietitians:
How can a dietitian nutritionist help?
Working with a dietitian — especially one trained in eating disorders and experienced with neurodivergent folx — can make a world of difference. Online Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is more than just meal plans; it’s about creating a sustainable, judgment-free relationship with food that works with your brain, not against it.
Here’s how:
Structure
Get support building a routine of regular, balanced meals (yes, even if you’re not "that hungry" in the morning). Dietitians can help simplify the chaos and create flexible, doable meal patterns that keep your blood sugar and brain steady.Low-pressure planning
No more overwhelming grocery lists or 15-step recipes. A good ED dietitian will help you stock your kitchen with easy, ADHD-friendly foods that you actually like and can prep even on your most scattered days.Kindness
This isn’t a discipline issue. It’s not about “trying harder.” A dietitian can help you unlearn harmful food rules and replace them with compassionate, science-based care that respects your needs and your brain chemistry.
Bottom line?
Working through ADHD and binge eating requires an incredibly individualized approach. Common treatment for ADHD may include medication partnered with behavioral therapies that work well alongside typical eating disorder treatment.
When working with a dietitian, you and your team will work together to create a plan that addresses your specific ADHD symptoms and struggles. For example, this plan might include creating a structured eating plan, setting alarms, organizing a grocery list, or body doubling on meal prep tasks during sessions with extra focus on emotional regulation and coping skills. Our team of registered dietitians at Side by Side Nutrition can offer individualized, collaborative support on this journey.
ADHD and BED aren’t about laziness or lack of discipline. They’re about how the brain is wired. With the right kind of support, healing your relationship with food is 100% possible.
What to do after a binge
Moving forward after a binge episode can feel incredibly distressing and uncomfortable. You probably feel the urge to “fix” the discomfort or overcompensate with restriction afterwards. It can be tough to not get caught up in feelings of guilt or shame. The reality is, compensatory behaviors and self criticism will never actually “fix” the problem; in turn, they will actually lead to the cycle continuing. Rather than leaning into punishment, we’re here to provide some more helpful ways to move on from a binge.
Be gentle with yourself
Rather than get caught in the shame and judgement pit, self compassion allows you to break out of the harmful cycle. Remind yourself that a binge is not proof of a lack of willpower, but rather our body’s survival instinct in response to restriction.
Practice gentle curiosity
When coming from a place of self compassion, we can use a binge episode to get curious about what else might be going on. After a binge, asking questions such as “what was I needing in that moment” or “how was I feeling when that happened” can help get to the root of the problem. You may find that skipping meals earlier in the day led to increased hunger and impulsivity in the evening. You may also find that emotions such as loneliness, stress, or boredom led to using food as a coping skill . When we allow ourselves to get gently curious about what we needed in that moment, we can build up our toolbox of coping skills for next time.
Get comfy
Your body will likely feel pretty uncomfortable after a binge. As a piece of self compassion, increasing comfort at this time can help move forward. This might include putting on comfy clothes, sipping peppermint tea, using some aroma therapy, putting on a fun tv show.
Engage in gently movement
Gentle movement, such as a walk, light stretching, or bike ride, after a binge can offer a mental reset as well as help with digestion and gut motility. This can be another way to reduce discomfort and bloating; as the physical discomfort decreases, so will the emotional.
Nourish your body
Continuing to follow your meal plan after a binge is one of the most important things you can do. Compensation by restricting will only perpetuate the binge-restrict cycle. Focusing on hydration and eating nourishing foods is the only way to break this cycle and truly move forward.
Reach out for support
Talking to a supportive clinician, friend or family can be incredibly healing after a binge. Talking through the emotions can help reduce the shame around and can provide a sounding board to further explore what happened. Reaching out to a treatment team including a dietitian and therapist can be a great first step in this healing process. Our team at Side by Side Nutrition can offer individualized, collaborative support on this journey.