In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), not only for its incidence between children and adolescents, but also for its events in adults.
Although the diagnosis of ADHD is fundamental for access to targeted treatments, it is important to recognize that many of the difficulties related to this disorder, such as impulsiveness, carelessness and hyperactivity, can worsen the quality of life. Among these we find the eating habits.
In this article we will discover if there is a link between ADHD and eating disorders and how food can influence the symptoms of the disorder.
ADHD and food
Numerous studies have highlighted how eating habits can significantly influence the typical symptoms of the ADHD.
For example, a study conducted on 217 teenagers indicates that the symptoms of ADHD can prepare young people to develop dysfunctional eating habitswith significant gender differences. The girls tend to demonstrate compensatory behavior, while the boys are more prone to overweight (Punas & Madeddu, 2013).
Another relevant study (Ptacek et al., 2016), deepens the link between ADHD and eating disorders, highlighting how ADHD symptoms are frequently associated with disordered food behaviors such as Binge Eating Disorder (Bed), Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa.
The authors offer different explanations for this connection. THE’typical Impulsiveness of ADHD can favor episodes of bingeswhile psychological comorbidity and nutritional deficiencies can exacerbate the symptoms of the disorder. Furthermore, the sdopaminergic hysterinvolved in both ADHD and eating disorders, could represent a neural substrate common to the two types of disorder.
Beyond these specific cases, it is very interesting to note that a growing number of scientific research is concentrating on how nutrition can influence the symptoms of the ADHD.
Understanding this relationship is crucial not only for those who have received a formal diagnosis, but also for those who experience difficulties related to attention, impulsiveness and emotional regulation.
The role of nutrition in the ADHD
Food plays a significant role in the event and management of the typical symptoms of the ADHD. Recent studies suggest that Specific food and nutrient patterns They can influence cognitive behavior and functions in children and adults with ADHD.
A study by Ptacek et al. (2014) analyzed dysfunctional food behaviors in male children with ADHD, highlighting that they showed a greater propensity to irregular food schemes It is a low intake of foods such as fruit and vegetables, rich in nutrients.
This behavior not only negatively affects the control of symptoms, but it can also compromise growth and physical development.
The diet, however, does not only concern the intake of nutrients, but also the social and relational dimension of the meal.
For children and adults with ADHD, moments such as lunch or dinner can represent significant challenges.
For example, children treated with stimulating drugs for ADHD often show one reduction of appetitewhich can negatively influence their growth and nutritional well -being (Isaacs et al., 2002).
To remedy this problem, strategies such as the meal programming In times when the effect of drugs is less intense and the adoption of behavioral techniques to encourage participation in meals.
A practical advice for parents is of Create coherent routines And quiet environments during meals. Strategies such as the use of positive reinforcements, the adoption of clear rules and the planning of gradual transitions can help make these moments more peaceful and significant.
Even creating a relaxed and predictable environment helps not only to improve the intake of nutrients, but also to promote positive family relationships and to develop social skills.
ADHD and food selectivity
There food selectivityunderstood as preference for a limited number of foods and the reluctance to experience new ones, is frequently observed in patients with ADHD, especially as children.
Children with ADHD, especially those with oppositional behavior, can show a marked oral sensory sensitivity which leads them to eating repeatedly to the same foods, thus limiting the variety of their diet (GhaniZadeh, 2011). This selectivity can determine a reduction in the nutritional variety, with potential repercussions on the quality of the diet and on the correct intake of essential nutrients, negatively influencing the management of the symptoms of the disorder.
Furthermore, the concomitance of ADHD and Autism can amplify both types of behavior food approach both of the type avoidantfurther complicating the picture of eating habits and increasing the risk of develop problems related to body weight (Harris et al., 2022).
Although atypical food behaviors, such as limited preference for certain foods, are more pronounced in children with autistic spectrum disorders, they are still present in subjects with ADHD. These data underline the importance of considering food selectivity as a significant aspect in the overall management of the disorder (Mayes & Zickgraf, 2019).
Specific interventions such as gradual exposure techniques to new foods and the structuring of regular food routines can help promote a more balanced diet and improve symptoms management (Shareghfarid et al., 2019).
Who has the ADHD must eliminate some foods?
A question frequently raised concerns the need for exclude certain foods from the diet of the subjects with ADHD.
Numerous studies suggest that Highly refined sugars foodssweets, food additives, artificial dyes and foods rich in saturated fats can exacerbate the symptoms of the disorder (Shareghfarid et al., 2019). These foods, in fact, can trigger inflammatory responses and interfere with the correct functioning of the dopaminergic system, negatively influencing both cognitive function and behavior.
However, the evidence currently at our disposal do not support a complete elimination of these foods, but an approach based on moderation. So what to eat for the ADHD?
Although many experts recommend to privilege one Diet rich in fruit, vegetables, legumes and fish To reduce symptoms, it becomes important to remind us that too rigid diet could be a source of further frustration.
Otherwise, a study highlighted the effectiveness of one Specific diet for ADHD for the reduction of symptoms (Pelsser et al., 2009). The diet was called “restrictive elimination” and consisted in reducing the number of foods belonging to the subject’s diet with ADHD. Although the sample was very small, of the 27 participating children, 73% not only showed less behavioral symptoms, but also reported positive effects on physical disorders and sleep commonly associated with the disorder. In some cases, reducing the breadth of the foods present in the diet could be a harbinger of benefits.
The ideal approach, therefore, should be customized: evaluate the specific nutritional and sensory needs of each individual allows to reduce potentially problematic foods without incurring nutritional deficiencies, thus guaranteeing optimal support for the management of the disorder.
The importance of receiving specialized support
Adhd studies continue to offer new interesting ideas that highlight theimportance of receiving specialized support.
Having aware professionals available is fundamental in the integrated management of the ADHD. Online psychologists and expert nutritionists offer personalized interventions Which can help not only for behavioral and cognitive difficulties, but also for eating habits, an aspect often neglected but crucial.
Considering nutrition as an integral part of the therapeutic path is an added value: a balanced diet and the adoption of a routine can contribute to reducing the symptoms directly and indirectly and supporting correct physical and cognitive development.
