ADHD and Binge Eating Disorder: 2025 Statistics

Last updated: August 21st, 2025

This comprehensive analysis examines the significant comorbidity between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and binge eating behaviors, synthesizing data from recent clinical studies, neuroimaging research, and population-based surveys conducted through 2024-2025. The relationship between ADHD and binge eating disorder represents one of the most clinically significant but underrecognized comorbidities in mental health.

Our review incorporates findings from over 50 studies encompassing clinical samples, community populations, and neurobiological research to provide healthcare professionals with evidence-based statistics for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning of individuals presenting with both ADHD and binge eating disorder symptoms.

Overall Comorbidity Prevalence

ADHD and Binge Eating Comorbidity Rates — 2025

Population	Prevalence Rate	Risk Multiplier	Clinical Significance
Children with ADHD developing binge eating disorder	9.3-11.4%	3.8x higher risk	Critical monitoring needed
Children with ADHD showing binge eating behaviors	26%	16x higher than controls (2%)	Most significant risk factor
Adults with binge eating disorder having ADHD history	30%	15x higher than general population	Routine ADHD screening needed
Binge eating disorder patients with positive ADHD screening	19.8-31%	12-15x general population rate	Standard assessment protocol

Key Insights:

• 1 in 10 children with ADHD will develop binge eating disorder, with 1 in 4 showing binge eating behaviors.
• Children with ADHD have a 16-fold increased risk of binge eating behaviors compared to their peers.
• Nearly 1 in 3 adults with binge eating disorder have a history of ADHD symptoms.
• Binge eating disorder treatment centers report ADHD symptoms in nearly one-third of all patients.

Gender and Age Patterns

Demographic Risk Patterns — 2025

Demographic Group	Binge Eating Risk	Prevalence Rate	Clinical Notes
Girls with ADHD	Higher than boys with ADHD	15-20%	Gender-specific vulnerability
Boys with ADHD	Elevated but lower than girls	8-12%	Often underrecognized
Children and Adolescents (Under 18)	Peak risk development period	20-26%	Critical intervention window
Adults (18+)	Often chronic from childhood	9.3-30%	Frequently undiagnosed ADHD

Key Insights:

• Girls with ADHD show higher rates of binge eating behaviors than boys, though both genders are at elevated risk.
• The comorbidity often emerges during childhood and adolescence, making early detection crucial.
• Many adults with binge eating disorder first receive ADHD diagnosis only after entering treatment.
• Gender differences in ADHD-binge eating comorbidity require tailored assessment approaches.

Binge Eating Patterns and ADHD Subtypes

ADHD Presentation and Binge Eating Risk — 2025

ADHD Subtype	Binge Eating Risk	Loss of Control Eating	Clinical Pattern
ADHD Combined Type	Highest risk	35-40%	Impulsivity + inattention combination
ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive Type	High risk	30-35%	Direct impulsivity-binge connection
ADHD Inattentive Type	Moderate risk	15-20%	Emotional eating, mindless eating
Subclinical ADHD Symptoms	Elevated risk	10-15%	Subclinical binge behaviors

Key Insights:

• ADHD presentations involving hyperactivity and impulsivity show the strongest association with binge eating.
• Combined type ADHD (inattention + hyperactivity) poses the highest risk for developing binge eating behaviors.
• Even subclinical ADHD symptoms are associated with elevated binge eating risk compared to controls.
• Impulsivity appears to be the key linking factor between ADHD and binge eating episodes.

Neurobiological Mechanisms

Brain-Based Risk Factors in ADHD-Binge Eating Comorbidity — 2025

Neurobiological Factor	Impact on ADHD	Impact on Binge Eating	Shared Mechanism
Dopamine System Dysfunction	Reward processing deficits	Food reward hypersensitivity	Dysregulated reward pathways
Executive Function Impairment	Poor impulse control	Loss of control eating	Prefrontal cortex dysfunction
Heightened Brain Reward Response	Novelty seeking behaviors	Increased food cue reactivity	Hyperactive reward circuits
Emotional Dysregulation	Mood instability	Emotional eating patterns	Limbic system dysfunction

Key Insights:

• Neuroimaging studies show people with ADHD have heightened brain responses to food cues, especially in reward centers.
• Dopamine system dysfunction appears to be a core shared vulnerability between ADHD and binge eating.
• Executive function deficits in ADHD directly contribute to loss of control eating episodes.
• Food or food images trigger stronger reward center activation in individuals with ADHD symptoms.

Sources

1. Villa, F.M., et al. (2023). "ADHD and eating disorders in childhood and adolescence: An updated minireview." Journal of Affective Disorders, 321, 265-271.
2. Seymour, K.E., et al. (2015). "Overlapping neurobehavioral circuits in ADHD, obesity, and binge eating: Evidence from neuroimaging research." CNS Spectrums, 20(4), 401-411.
3. Biederman, J., et al. (2007). "Are girls with ADHD at risk for eating disorders? Results from a controlled, five-year prospective study." Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 28(4), 302-307.
4. Svedlund, N.E., et al. (2017). "Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among adult eating disorder patients." BMC Psychiatry, 17(1), 19.
5. Appolinario, J.C., et al. (2024). "Associations of adult ADHD symptoms with binge eating spectrum conditions, psychiatric and somatic comorbidity, and healthcare utilization." Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 46, e20243728.
6. Reinblatt, S.P., et al. (2015). "Are eating disorders related to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder?" Current Psychiatry Reports, 17(12), 96.
7. CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). (2022). "Brain reward response linked to binge eating and ADHD." ADHD News.
8. National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). "Eating Disorders Statistics." NIMH Statistical Data.