Understanding Neurodivergence and Eating Habits
The Overlap That Can’t Be Ignored
When you work with both eating disorders and neurodivergent clients, a pattern quickly emerges.
Rigid thinking. Sensory overwhelm Appetite suppression. Food rules that feel immovable.
This isn’t just the eating disorder talking; it’s often ADHD, autism, or both shaping the entire relationship with food.
As a therapist (and a mum in a neurodivergent household), I’ve had to rethink everything I thought I knew about how to support people around food. Because when ADHD, autism and eating disorders intersect, traditional approaches often fall flat.
This blog explores exactly how that overlap shows up and how we can adapt.
So, what overlaps do we see between ADHD, autism, and eating disorders?
➔ Sensory issues: Texture, smell, noise, and visual presentation of food can all trigger avoidance.
➔ Overwhelm from choice: Too many options = freeze response.
➔ Black-and-white thinking: “Good” foods vs “bad” foods becomes hardwired.
➔ Rigid belief systems: Beliefs around food and routines are hard to shift unless paired with psychoeducation.
➔ Appetite dysregulation: ADHD medication often suppresses hunger, masking true cues.
When someone is both neurodivergent and struggling with an eating disorder, we have to ask:
Is this autism… or is this the eating disorder voice? That question becomes crucial in guiding recovery work.
Differentiating Autism from ED Behaviours
A practical way to explore this with clients is to ask, “Would you have eaten this before the eating disorder started?” If the answer is no, it may be autism-related aversion. If yes, it’s more likely part of the ED.
You also start to see lifelong preferences,“I’ve never liked mushrooms,” “I’ve always hated food touching”,and that context matters. But this isn’t exclusive to autism.
ADHD clients also present sensory sensitivities:
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Noise at mealtimes
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Needing movement while eating
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Getting bored of food quickly (dopamine seeking)
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Only wanting the same safe food on repeat
School Environments & Mealtime Stress
Let’s talk schools.
Lunchtime can be a battlefield. Neurodivergent students often lack quiet, safe spaces to eat. So they skip lunch, eat in the toilets, or go home early.
What do we see in practice?
➔ Anxiety around the canteen
➔ Avoidant behaviours
➔ Sensory overload from smells, noise, bright lights
➔ Shame around appetite or food rules
It’s no surprise many neurodivergent teens end up in disordered eating patterns. They’re simply trying to cope.
Adapting Therapy for Neurodivergent Clients
So, how do we adapt therapy?
We start by:
➔ Teaching clients about their brain
➔ Co-creating goals (not imposing them)
➔ Offering choice: “Would you like to eat X, Y, or Z?”
➔ Creating structured flexibility, boundaries that feel safe
➔ Using visual cues, repetition, and routines
➔ Avoiding “just try this food” approaches
Recovery isn’t about compliance; it’s about autonomy. The moment we stop telling and start collaborating, clients engage more fully.
Further Exploration of Neurodivergence and Eating Disorders
If this topic resonates, you might also find this helpful: Unravelling the connection between autism and eating disorders.
In it, I explore how sensory overload, masking, rigid routines, and emotional overwhelm can all affect how neurodivergent people experience food and body image. It’s a gentle, honest look at the missing pieces in many traditional eating disorder treatments.
Reflecting on Past Eating Habits
Understanding Pre-Disorder Eating Patterns
Appetite and Medication
The Role of ADHD Medication in Eating Patterns
ADHD medication adds another layer.
Many young people on stimulants lose their appetite. They might not eat all day and then crash by dinner.
This can create:
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Mood swings
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Energy crashes
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Poor concentration
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Emotional dysregulation
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Further, disconnect from hunger cues.
Is medication bad? Not necessarily. But schools and families must find a middle ground. Liquid meal replacements are one workaround. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing.
Without fuel, the brain can’t focus. Glucose from carbohydrates is essential. And without food, we lose social connection, motivation, and attention.
Adapting Therapy & Family Dynamics
For parents, it’s chaotic.
If you’re raising neurodivergent kids, mealtimes might feel like war zones. One child refuses the texture. Another panics at the noise.
You’re cooking 2–3 different meals.
And dinner becomes a battleground of emotional needs.
You are not alone.
We need more support for parents navigating these sensory, emotional and behavioural storms. Especially when there’s an eating disorder
Support for Neurodivergent Eating Habits Starts Here
Whether it’s autism, ADHD, an eating disorder,or all three, what people need most is to feel understood.
Not judged.
Not pathologised.
Just met exactly where they are.
Recovery looks different for every neurodivergent client.
And that’s not a flaw in the model,it’s the whole.
Becky Stone
About Me
Hi, I’m Becky Stone, an eating disorder therapist, clinical supervisor, and neurodivergent mum based in Canterbury, Kent.
I offer 1:1 therapy and clinical supervision both online and in person. If you’re local to Canterbury, I also provide walk-and-talk treatment.
My work is rooted in lived experience, compassion, and a deep understanding of how ADHD, autism, and eating disorders often overlap. Whether you’re seeking support for yourself, your child, or your clients, I offer a flexible, person-centred approach that meets you where you are.
Let’s find what works for your brain and build a recovery journey that feels possible.
