Raising awareness of the
ADHD-Eating Disorder Connection
Our Mission
Two Birds is a research and advocacy project dedicated to raising awareness about the comorbidity of ADHD and eating disorders. Through our work, we aim to empower people with ADHD and eating disorders to understand themselves better and advocate for themselves. The name Two Birds represents the coexistence of ADHD and eating disorders and how one can help understand the other.
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that includes difficulties with inattentiveness, overstimulation, and impulsivity (Klassen et al., 2009). The three major types of ADHD are predominantly impulsive/hyperactive, predominantly inattentive/distractible (also known as ADD), and combined/mixed (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2023). Listed in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) as a neurodevelopmental disorder, ADHD symptoms are often present prior to the age of 6 (National Health Services, 2023). It is interesting to note that studies have shown people with ADHD are more likely to have mood disorders, including depression and anxiety. (National Institutes of Health, 2023) ADHD has also been linked to difficulties with executive function, such as self-activation, being able to focus on a goal, stress tolerance, organization, planning/prioritizing, flexible thinking, sustained attention, working memory, emotional control, and patience. (ADDitude Magazine, 2022)
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are behavioral conditions characterized by a continuous disruption of eating behavior, frequently leading to a deficiency in physical and/or mental health. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). A variety of eating disorders are listed in the DSM-V, such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
ADHD + Eating Disorders
The comorbidity of ADHD and Eating Disorders is often overlooked, which can be detrimental to those struggling. Exploring the comorbidity of ADHD and eating disorders is critical to having a holistic understanding of an individual's behavior so that proper treatment and support can be provided. In general, the presence of both ADHD and an eating disorder may indicate overlapping neurobehavioral circuits and often involve problems in several areas, including impulsivity, response inhibition, emotional regulation, and reward processing (Bush et al., 2005; Frank, 2013). Binge eating or Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and the binge-purge subtype of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) have been associated with behavioral impulsivity (Seltz et al., 2013).
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Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is best known for her role as Mitchie Torres in the musical film Camp Rock (2008) and its sequel Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010). Her success as a singer includes a Grammy nomination for her fifth album, Confident, and the lead single “Sorry Not Sorry” from her album Tell Me You Love Me, which became the highest-charting single in the United States.
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Demi Lovato has struggled with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa since the age of 12. (Women’s Health, 2021) The singer told The New York Times in 2021 she believes her diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder is incorrect, and that she actually lives with ADHD. Her misdiagnosis of Bipolar Disorder demonstrates how commonly ADHD’s role in emotional dysregulation is overlooked, especially in women. (Quinn et al., 2014)
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Lovato also claims her relapse in 2018 with regards to both her drug abuse and eating disorder, was partly due to her sense of perfectionism that surfaced from the immense pressure she experienced as a growing star. (“Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil,” 2021). This is no surprise, considering people with ADHD, especially those in whom it is undiagnosed, tend to indulge in addictive behaviors in order to “self-medicate” to alleviate their symptoms (National Institute of Health, 2023).