How Being Neurodivergent Can Impact Your Experience with an Eating Disorder

What is Neurodivergent?

Much like eating disorders, neurodivergence is complicated and multifaceted—we are continuing to learn more about how to understand best, diagnose, and support neurodivergent individuals, especially when it comes to eating disorders.

Neurodivergence encompasses a variety of diagnosis, including ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia. This blog is focused on ADHD and Autism and how these may impact your experience with an eating disorder.

Before I jump into how eating disorders and neurodivergence can impact each other, I want to clarify that I don’t personally believe that neurodivergence causes eating disorders. I do believe that a lack of understanding of neurodivergence, accompanied by societal norms and expectations, puts pressure on neurodivergent individuals and can negatively impact their relationship with food.

Many people with Autism or ADHD do not develop eating disorders if they are properly supported and given the tools they need to meet their needs before an eating disorder develops.

Stereotypes of Neurodivergence

Did you know an estimated 15-20% of the population is neurodivergent?

Yet, many of my clients were not diagnosed until their late teens or adulthood because they didn’t “fit” what most people thought of as ADHD or Autism. They were “too calm” to have ADHD or “too social” to have Autism.

As our research and understanding of both eating disorders and neurodivergence grows, more and more people are realizing that they could benefit from professional support to navigate their challenges. 

How eating disorders and neurodivergence can impact each other.

My clients often say that sensory issues and difficulties with executive functioning negatively impact their relationship with food.

People with ADHD and Autism commonly struggle with the texture or taste of certain foods and rely on safe foods. Foods that are pre-packaged or convenient—like frozen dinners—are often perceived as inferior to fresh foods.

As a society, we often create this narrative that certain of foods are problematic and should only be consumed occasionally.

This narrative can be challenging for someone with ADHD or Autism who may be trying to meet societal expectations, while also trying to meet their nutritional needs.

Rather than using strengths-based, gradual processes to support someone in meeting their nutritional needs, we focus on moralizing their choices. Over time, the stress of trying to fit into society's expectations wears down individuals’ natural instincts to feed themselves.

Neurodivergent individuals may struggle with sensory issues and executive functioning difficulties, hindering their ability to cultivate a positive relationship with food and often leading to negative impacts on their relationship with it.

How a late diagnosis can impact an eating disorder.

Nothing affects the body's ability to send good signals around food like stress.

Above, I shared about how many of my clients did not receive a diagnosis until later in life. Following years of attempting to navigate a world primarily designed for neurotypical people, the cumulative stress takes its toll on individuals.

Masking is exhausting, and our society is often unforgiving of people with diverse needs in work and school.

Although the Americans with Disabilities Act requires accommodations, they are limited in scope. In addition, someone needs to know they have a disability before they can ask for an accommodation, and many of my clients spent some period of time undiagnosed. Even if a neurodivergent diagnosis is suspected, testing is a cumbersome and expensive process that not everyone can access.

How I can help.

Developing systems to eat effectively with Autism or ADHD is a critical step. This often includes calling on the expertise of a registered dietician and focusing on slow, realistic steps to develop systems around food.

If you’re thinking, where can I find an eating disorder therapist near me, I might be able to help. I’m passionate about supporting my clients in examining and better understanding how their experience may be impacting their relationship with food.

If you’re in MA, RI, VT, or VA, I may be able to help you get the support you’re seeking. Learn more about my services, or contact me today for a free consultation to gain a deeper understanding on how I can help.