Another reason is that to eat healthy and in moderation, you need to pay attention to your hunger and satiety cues. Often people with adult ADHD misunderstand what their bodies are telling them. They mistake feelings of boredom or worry for hunger, and so they overeat. When you do so — especially if you choose the wrong foods — it’s easy to put on weight, said Jessica Crandall, RD, CDE, program director for Sodexo Wellness and Nutrition Services and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Still another reason that obesity is a problem among people with ADHD symptoms is that their brains have a glitch in the executive functioning area required to plan and prepare healthy meals, Olivardia said. “Thus, eating prepared meals or fast food becomes the norm, and they end up eating more fat and calories than they need, which leads to weight gain,” he said.
Strategies to Avoid Weight Gain
If you have adult ADHD, it doesn’t mean you’re destined to gain weight. Here are nine tips you can use to fight obesity:
ADHD and Obesity
It’s easy to pack on the pounds as you get older and more sedentary — and even more so for those with adult ADHD because you have a tendency to be impulsive, which can lead to your overeating of unhealthy foods. You don’t need to constantly diet, Olivardia said. “Throw that word out of your vocabulary,” he said. Instead, make these simple lifestyle adjustments, and you’ll find you can control your eating and your weight.
