Did you know that nearly twenty percent of Americans identify as neurodivergent? Did you know that about ten percent of the population in the United States will experience an eating disorder? Each of these conditions can pose risks to one’s health and contribute to difficulties in navigating everyday life. When neurodivergence and eating disorders overlap, those risks and challenges can interact in unique and challenging ways. This article will dig into neurodivergence, eating disorders, and how these two conditions can impact one another. Understanding the interplay between neurodivergence and eating disorders can help you or a loved one get the care you need and get you on the path to recovery. 

What Is Neurodivergence?

Neurodivergence is the term used for those whose minds process, learn, or behave differently than what is considered neurotypical, or “normal” by societal standards. Neurodivergent individuals do not have better or worse brain function, but simply different functionalities and interpretations than their neurotypical peers. Neurodiversity is the inclusion of all people on the spectrum of neurocognitive differences.  

Neurodivergence takes a wide variety of expressions and can vary considerably based on the individual and environment. Some common neurodivergent conditions include:

• • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A neurodevelopmental disorder that affects one’s ability to interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave.  
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A chronic condition characterized by attention difficulty, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
  • Dyslexia: A learning disorder that impacts reading and writing skills.
  • Dyspraxia or developmental coordination disorder (DCD): A neurological and developmental disorder affecting motor skills, coordination, and physical development. 
  • Down syndrome: A genetic condition that impacts physical and neurological development, leading to intellectual disabilities and increased risk of particular health conditions. 
  • Bipolar disorder: A mental health condition defined by a person’s extreme and alternating mood swings. 
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): A mental health condition characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. 
  • Tourette syndrome: a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive and involuntary movements and vocalizations. 

This is not an exhaustive list of conditions considered under the umbrella term of neurodivergent. Anyone experiencing a learning or developmental disability or a mental illness could be considered neurodivergent, depending on their personal lived experience. Though some conditions may require medical care, therapeutic intervention, or prescription medication, many neurodivergent people live robust lives with little outward signalling of their cognitive differences. Nevertheless, conditions of neurodivergence can have challenging impacts for individuals regardless of the type, severity, or visibility of the condition. 

What Is an Eating Disorder?

An eating disorder is a serious, complex, and treatable health condition characterized by persistent changes in behaviors and relationship regarding eating and food. Eating disorders include conditions like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and ARFID. Those experiencing eating disorders often have disordered eating habits, hyperfocus on body weight or body shape, and reduced self esteem.

Eating disorders are experienced differently, depending on a wide variety of personal and environmental factors. Nevertheless, there are some common signs and symptoms found among individuals experiencing eating disorders. Here’s a noncomprehensive list of common eating disorder symptoms:

• Extreme dieting and excessive exercise
• Bingeing and purging behaviors
• Obsession with calories and nutrients
• Avoidance of particular categories of food 
• Changes in body weight 
• Secretive or ritualized eating habits
• Fixation on body weight or shape
• Distorted body image

Without intervention, these behaviors can lead to significant health impacts. Health complications may include gastrointestinal disorders, reduced fertility, organ failure, and even loss of life. Along with significant physical impacts, eating disorders can also cause harm to one’s mental health. Many individuals with eating disorders may experience intense feelings of shame and guilt, engage in behaviors of self-harm, struggle with substance abuse and addiction, and/or suffer from anxiety or depression. With access to specialized care and support, recovery from eating disorders is possible.  

The Intersection of Neurodivergence and Eating Disorders

Both eating disorders and many neurodivergent conditions can be challenging to navigate on their own. When these types of conditions overlap, it can cause distress in daily life and challenges in treatment and recovery. The intersection of neurodivergence and eating disorders requires special understanding and attention. 

There is an increasingly strong body of research exploring the connection between neurodivergence and eating disorders. Researchers have found that there is significant overlap among those experiencing eating disorders and neurodivergent conditions. For example:

• Nearly twenty percent of individuals with a diagnosis of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) are also autistic.
• Individuals experiencing anorexia nervosa tend to report higher rates of traits associated with autism spectrum disorder. 
• Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are four times more likely to develop an eating disorder. 

These statistics begin to illustrate a pattern of prevalence when looking at neurodivergent conditions and eating disorders. Why might this be the case? Many neurodivergent individuals, especially those diagnosed with ASD or ADHD, have variations in sensory processing. Sensory processing is how both internal and external stimuli impact the brain’s functions and responses. External stimuli response, known as exteroception, is impacted by environmental factors like texture, light, and sound. Internal stimuli response, known as interoception, is affected by internal bodily cues like hunger, thirst, and pain. 

Many neurodivergent conditions, like ASD and ADHD, are characterized by heightened exteroception, or increased sensory sensitivities to external stimuli to aspects of texture, smell, and taste. This can lead to aversions to food types, altered eating behaviors, and fixation on particular foods or eating behaviors. Heightened exteroception can also lend itself to other mental health conditions like anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Similarly, interception can also pose a challenge. Many people diagnosed with neurodivergent conditions experience disrupted interoception, or changes in their sensitivity to internal body cues. Disruption in hunger and fullness cues can contribute to prolonged periods without food intake, a proclivity to binge eating, and other restrictive eating habits. 

Though autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more commonly studied in their relationship with eating disorders, people experiencing other intellectual disabilities may also be at increased risk for developing an eating disorder. Intellectual disabilities (ID) are characterized by struggles in mental abilities and daily functions as compared to an individual’s neurotypical peers or the general population. Intellectual disabilities can include Down syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and complications borne of prenatal infections, brain injury, and exposure to toxins. Studies have found that up to eighty percent of children diagnosed with an intellectual disability experience the following challenges with food and eating:

• Physical disruption in the functions of eating, like chewing and swallowing
• Extreme sensitivity to texture, temperature, flavor, and smell
• Intense pickiness and food selectivity
• Frequent behavioral disruption during meal times
• Development of pica, a eating disorder characterized by a person’s compulsion to ingest non-food items  

These behaviors can pose a significant risk to one’s physical health and create footholds for disordered eating and the potential development of eating disorders. 

Regardless of the type or severity of an individual’s neurodivergent condition, there are increased risks of developing an eating disorder. If you or a loved one is struggling with the intersection of these two conditions, it is important to seek help. 

Treatment and Support 

Finding treatment and support for any health condition can be challenging, but when a neurodivergent condition intersects with an eating disorder, it can feel even more overwhelming to seek help. Nevertheless, it is important that you or a loved one finds care and support to help you on the path to eating disorder recovery. Research has found that those who struggle with a neurodivergent condition, such as autism spectrum disorder, feel that they do not receive the specialized care they need during eating disorder treatment. Luckily, the professional, compassionate staff at the National Alliance for Eating Disorders can help you find the treatment approaches you need based on your unique personal experience. For those living with a neurodivergent condition, interventions like face-to-face talk therapy, taking prescription medications, and other clinical settings may cause distress. It is important to find healthcare providers that understand your particular needs and provide neurodiversity-affirming care as you navigate eating disorder recovery.

Seek Help

If you or a loved one is experiencing an eating disorder, you are not alone. Recovery is possible and help is available with the National Alliance for Eating Disorders.