Neurodivergence and Eating Disorders: The Overlap. Why the Connection Is Stronger Than We Thought — and What It Means for Treatment

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Neurodivergence and Eating Disorders: The Overlap

Why the Connection Is Stronger Than We Thought — and What It Means for Treatment

Eating disorders have long been misunderstood as only affecting perfectionistic, appearance-focused individuals. But there’s growing recognition that many people with eating disorders — especially those whose struggles don’t fit the "classic" profile — are actually neurodivergent.

Whether it’s autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, or other forms of neurodivergence, the overlap with disordered eating is real, under-recognized, and critically important for effective care.

Let’s explore what this overlap looks like, why it happens, and how to support neurodivergent individuals through eating disorder recovery.

What Is Neurodivergence?

Neurodivergence refers to brains that work differently from what's considered “typical.” This includes conditions like:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Sensory Processing Disorder

• OCD, learning disabilities, and more

Neurodivergence is not a disorder to fix — it’s a difference to understand. And in the context of eating, it can play a major role.

How Neurodivergence and Eating Disorders Overlap

1. Sensory Sensitivities

Many autistic individuals or those with sensory processing differences experience hypersensitivity to texture, smell, temperature, or flavor.

“I can't stand how yogurt feels in my mouth.”
“Crunchy foods make me gag.”
“Mixed textures make me panic.”

This often leads to:

• Food refusal or avoidance

• Extremely limited diets

• ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

Research shows that up to 33% of individuals with ARFID meet criteria for autism (Kambanis et al., 2020).

2. Rigid Thinking & Rule-Making

People with autism or OCD traits may:

• Create strict food rules (e.g., only eating certain brands or sequences)

• Struggle with changes in routine or presentation

• Experience distress when food doesn’t meet exact expectations

This can lead to ritualistic eating behaviors — often mistaken for anorexia, when the root is rigidity and sensory distress rather than weight concerns.

3. Impulsivity and Dysregulation (ADHD)

People with ADHD may:

• Forget to eat or miss hunger cues

• Experience binge eating during periods of emotional overwhelm or dopamine seeking

• Struggle with planning, shopping, or meal prep

• Use food as a tool for stimulation, distraction, or emotional soothing

This overlap is often misunderstood as "laziness" or "lack of willpower" — when in reality, it's executive dysfunction.

ADHD is significantly linked to binge eating behaviors and loss of control eating (Levy et al., 2019).

4. Emotional Regulation Difficulties

Neurodivergent individuals may experience:

• Alexithymia (difficulty identifying or expressing emotions)

• Heightened anxiety, overwhelm, or shame

• Challenges with transitions and coping skills

Disordered eating can become a coping strategy, a form of control, or a way to express unspoken distress.

Misdiagnosis & Missed Diagnoses

Because neurodivergent people often present atypically, they are:

• Underdiagnosed with eating disorders (especially in larger bodies)

• Misdiagnosed with “behavioral issues” or “picky eating”

• Labeled non-compliant or treatment-resistant

• Dismissed due to their body size, age, or gender

This leads to under-treatment and higher rates of chronic illness and relapse.

Clinicians must consider neurodivergence when evaluating eating disorder symptoms — especially in those who don’t fit the stereotype.

What Neurodivergent-Affirming ED Treatment Looks Like

✅ Sensory-informed nutrition plans
✅ Flexible therapy approaches (CBT, DBT, or ACT adapted for ND minds)
✅ Pacing and structure to reduce overwhelm
✅ Support with executive functioning and meal prep
✅ Accommodating stimming, fidgeting, or self-regulation needs during sessions and meals
✅ Avoiding moral language around food
✅ Validation of lived experience — not forcing “normal” eating

The goal isn’t to make the person more typical. It’s to help them build a safe, sustainable relationship with food and their body — on their terms.

Final Thought

Neurodivergent people don’t develop eating disorders despite their brains — they often develop them because their brains process the world differently.

Understanding this overlap doesn’t just improve care — it opens the door to truly inclusive, effective, and respectful treatment.

“You are not broken — your brain just speaks a different language. And recovery is possible in that language, too.”

References

• Kambanis, P. E., et al. (2020). Clinical and neurocognitive correlates of ARFID in youth. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(10), 1610–1619.

• Levy, F., Hay, D. A., et al. (2019). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and comorbid eating disorders. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 80(6), 18r12487.

• Zucker, N. L., et al. (2015). Disentangling the effects of restricted eating and autism traits on rigidity in adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 56(6), 629–636.

• Norris, M. L., et al. (2021). Disordered eating and neurodevelopmental conditions: A scoping review. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 15(1), 19.

• Thomas, J. J., & Eddy, K. T. (2019). CBT-AR: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID.

Need Neurodivergent-Affirming ED Support?

We offer compassionate, personalized treatment for eating disorders in neurodivergent youth and young adults — including those with autism, ADHD, ARFID, and sensory feeding issues.