EP. 21: ADHD and Weight

In this episode Tracy talks about ADHD and weight. When people think of the stereotypical ADHD person they often think of an energetic, constantly moving, constantly talking, climbing the walls kind of boy. They’re hyperactive so that doesn’t square with someone who struggles with their weight. Studies however, show that ADHD symptoms may trigger serious weight problems especially for those with the inattentive type of ADHD. Research shows that those that struggle with obesity are 5-10 times more likely to have ADHD. Learn what significant implications this has for girls and eating disorders and why early studies on adolescents and ADHD didn’t pick this up.

Tracy cites two studies on girls with ADHD. Discover why girls have a much higher likelihood of developing eating disorders and what type of ADHD is most predictive of an eating disorder in girls. Learn why our brain chemistry is attracted to sugar and carbohydrates. Discover what Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) is and how it affects our motivation and our sense of satisfaction when we work towards a goal. Learn also how this affects the satisfaction that we get from food. Tracy talks about the link between RDS and addiction and how addictive behaviors around food and other substances begin. Tracy also goes into why food is different from other substances like alcohol, cigarettes and drugs and how many decisions an individual must make every day when trying to maintain their weight as compared to the number of decisions that are made when one decides to stop drinking, smoking or using drugs.

Learn how self-regulation plays into all of this and why those of us with ADHD are predisposed towards addiction but addiction is in no way a given. In fact, most people with ADHD do not struggle with addiction at all. Tracy then explains the link between disordered eating, ADHD and executive function deficits. She covers: Struggles with planning Forgetting to eat Impulsiveness in food choices, how bad sleep habits lead to poor eating habits, Poor interoceptive awareness Procrastinating. She shares ideas around getting control over our eating that include: How medication can make a big difference for some women with ADHD Making sure your goals are very clear and then keeping them front and center, how planning meals using meal kit services like Blue Apron, Purple Carrot, Sun Basket and Hello Fresh can really help if you like to cook but hate to plan and shop. Using an Apple Watch as a reminder. Using the Noom app to remind me of my weight loss goal.

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Resources:

• John Ratey’s book Spark
• Zero fasting app
• Noom weightloss app

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