This study looked at eating habits and the handling of emotions in adults with ADHD. The report is a conference abstract, so it gives only a short account of the work. The authors note that little earlier research has looked at eating in adults with ADHD.
The sample was 99 adults with ADHD and 100 adults of a similar age without ADHD. The study was observational. Everyone filled in an online survey. It asked about ADHD symptoms, eating habits, ways of coping with feelings, anxiety and depression. The abstract does not give the age range. It also does not say how the ADHD diagnosis was confirmed.
Adults with ADHD reported significantly more emotional overeating than the comparison group. They also reported getting hungry more easily and reacting more strongly to food. They were more likely to use unhelpful ways of handling their emotions. In the ADHD group, two of these, rumination and self-blame, were found to underlie the eating habits. These two patterns helped explain the link between ADHD and hunger. They also helped explain the link between ADHD and reacting to food.
The authors suggest that trouble managing emotions may leave adults with ADHD more open to these food-seeking habits. The abstract reports no test results or effect sizes, so the size of these differences is not known. It lists no limitations.
Source: Denyer L, Smith B, Ludlow A. Rumination and disinhibited eating behaviours in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Appetite (2024). doi:10.1016/j.appet.2024.107445