Scientists find your choice of foods could be a sign of ADHD
Your choice of food could be a sign of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a new study has revealed.
Scientists found that 'snacking' was more common among those with the disorder than compared to individuals without.
Researchers analyzed the dietary behavior of young adults ages 16 through 20, finding those who reported they had ADHD consumed more foods like energy drinks, chips and fried foods than participants who did not have the diagnosis.
ADHD, a neurodevelopmental condition that typically begins in childhood and persists into adulthood, is characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning or development.
People with ADHD tend to have trouble staying focused, remembering tasks, sitting still and listening without interrupting others. This can interfere with daily functioning or development.
The team suggested that the specific eating behavior was due to certain ADHD symptoms, particularly impulsivity and yearning for mental stimulation.
Previous studies have explored links between ADHD and diet, suggesting that an unhealthy diet mainly composed of processed and refined foods, added sugars, unhealthy fats and red meat increases the risk of developing the disorder.
The new study further investigated the relationship between ADHD and diet, finding that it's not just that diet influences the disorder, but that the disorder influences diet.
A new study has found that 16 to 20-year-olds with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) tend to eat more snacks than those without the disorder
'The current study found that impulsivity, rather than ADHD itself, exhibited the most robust link with dietary behavior among adolescents, notably through its association with increased snack consumption,' the authors wrote.
'Targeting adolescents’ impulsive behavior could notably influence their dietary choices, potentially offering substantial health benefits,' they added.
The research was led by Laura Dalnoki, professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
Dalnoki and her colleagues analyzed data from the KOALA Birth Cohort Study in the Netherlands, a long-term study that follows the health, growth and development of more than 2,500 children born between born between 2001 and 2003.
For Dalnoki's study, the research team used data collected from 810 members of this cohort in 2021, when the participants were 16 to 20 years old.
The adolescents had completed an assessment of their own dietary behavior, which asked them to go through a 28-item list of foods and beverages and indicate how often they consumed each one.
They also reported whether they had been diagnosed with ADHD.
Their parents also completed assessments of their children's behavioral problems and impulsivity levels.
This study adds to previous research which found that people with ADHD often eat to achieve mental and sensory stimulation
The researchers categorized the adolescents' dietary patterns into five groups: snack, healthy, animal-based, sweet and beverages.
The 'snack' pattern was characterized by high intakes of regular (non-diet) soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit juice, fried snacks, chips, nuts and other snack foods.
In total, 80 of the participants were diagnosed with ADHD. These adolescents reported consuming food and drink items from the snacks category more often than their peers without the disorder.
What's more, participants with ADHD who had more severe behavioral symptoms, such as impulsivity, reported more frequent snack consumption.
Interestingly, those with high impulsivity scores tended to consume items from the sweet group more often and items from the beverage group more often.
The researchers published their findings in the Journal of Attention Disorders.
Dalnoki and her colleagues believe the study indicates a clear link between certain ADHD symptoms, particularly impulsivity, and snack consumption among adolescents.
But they note that further research is needed in order to fully understand this relationship.
This study adds to previous research which found that people with ADHD often eat to achieve mental and sensory stimulation.
According to the 2015 study, the part of the brain responsible for feelings of pleasure, reward and motivation often does not function properly in people with ADHD.
As a result, those with the disorder may not feel the same level of satisfaction internally, driving them to seek outside sources of stimulation — such as food.
Food stimulates the brain by engaging the senses, particularly taste, smell, sight and touch.
This is true even for people without ADHD, but those with the disorder may be more sensitive to that stimulation because of their brain chemistry, according to Healthline.
Thus, experts believe people with ADHD may tend to overeat in an attempt to satisfy their brains' increased need for stimulation.
This, perhaps coupled with the lack of impulse control investigated in Dalnoki's study, may lead to frequent snacking or, in extreme cases, binge eating.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is an eating disorder characterized by consuming a large amount of food within a short time period, while feeling like you cannot control what or how much you are eating.
A 2017 review found significant links between ADHD and eating disorders in eight out of 11 studies, and strong links between ADHD and BED in 20 out of 27 studies.
What's more, a 2015 review found that impulsivity is the strongest predictor of disordered eating behavior in people with ADHD, underscoring the results of Dalnoki's new study.
Investigating the link between diet and ADHD has revealed key signs that may help parents identify symptoms of the disorder in their children.
Additionally, these studies help experts understand the root causes the unique eating behaviors associated with ADHD.
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