Struggle with binge eating? ADHD might be part of the puzzle…

Did you know that around 30% of people who struggle with binge eating also have ADHD?

Many of the women I’ve worked with have only discovered later in life that they had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). And this isn’t a coincidence, there’s a significant overlap between the challenges of ADHD and the patterns of binge or emotional eating.

ADHD in girls and women has been overlooked for years. That’s partly because symptoms can look different in females than in males, leading to underdiagnosis. Women with ADHD often show less obvious signs and symptoms are likely to be more internalised, such as increased sensitivity and anxiety.

On top of that, societal expectations has meant that many girls (and women) have become experts at masking their symptoms, Only now are experts beginning to recognise why many women have struggled quietly for years.

Hyperfocus and Missed Meals

One common ADHD trait in women is hyperfocus, often getting so absorbed in tasks that they may skip meals, only to experience extreme hunger and cravings later. This pattern can easily trigger binge eating episodes.

Dopamine and Reward-Seeking

Another key factor is dopamine, the brain chemical linked to reward and pleasure. People with ADHD often have less available dopamine, which can make everyday activities feel less stimulating or rewarding. This can lead to reward-seeking through food, where eating provides a quick dopamine “boost” that feels comforting and pleasurable. Lower dopamine can also increase impulsivity, making it harder to pause before eating or resist highly palatable foods, which can fuel cravings and binge cycles. Essentially, food can become a reliable source of stimulation and pleasure in the short term, perpetuating the cycle of emotional or binge eating.

Emotional Regulation Difficulties

ADHD can also make emotional regulation more challenging. Intense feelings including stress, boredom, frustration, or sadness, can feel overwhelming, and food can become a quick way to soothe or manage these emotions. For many women, binge eating serves as a coping mechanism when emotions feel too intense to manage.

Executive function challenges

ADHD can also affect day-to-day organisation and routines. Planning ahead, preparing balanced meals, or sticking to regular eating times can feel overwhelming or easily forgotten. As a result, meals may be skipped or delayed, and food choices often come down to what’s most convenient in the moment. Over time, this lack of structure can leave someone more vulnerable to intense hunger, cravings, and eventually binge episodes.

Interoception and Appetite Cues

Another often overlooked aspect is interoception -the ability to sense your internal bodily signals, like hunger and fullness. People with ADHD may have reduced interoceptive awareness, meaning it’s harder to recognise when they’re hungry or when they’ve eaten enough.

If any of this resonates with you, know that you are not alone and it’s not a personal failing. Understanding how ADHD can influence your eating patterns is the first step toward breaking the cycle. With the right strategies and support, it’s possible to reconnect with your body, respond to hunger and fullness cues, and find more sustainable ways to manage emotions without turning to food. Healing your relationship with food is about learning to respond with awareness, curiosity, and compassion.

This is just one of the many topics I explore in my best-selling book: 📕 The Binge Freedom Method: Your Four Pillar Plan to Beat Emotional Eating for Good, where I share strategies, tools and insights to help you understand your patterns and take back control of your eating habits.

You can also get started today by downloading my Breaking the Cycle Toolkit for FREE,  which includes a key step designed to help you reconnect with your appetite cues and begin taking small, practical steps toward freedom from binge eating.