The Connection We’re Still Learning: Neurodivergence and Eating Disorders

Written by an Anonymous Recover at Home Client who is fully recovered

Eating disorders (EDs) have taken lives since there have been lives to be taken, but only in the light of the past century have they been given their names. This makes for a lot we don't know about EDs, and what little we do know has yet to reach the audience that perhaps needs to hear it most.

However, there is one unlikely connection that has become increasingly apparent: neurodivergence and eating disorders often overlap, so much so that research has found significantly higher rates of autism and ADHD among people with eating disorders than in the general population.

So, what does this mean?

Well, in order to understand how they interact with one another, it's important to first understand the disorders themselves.

Neurodivergence, like ED, is also relatively "new" as a term and is still largely being studied. Generally speaking, anyone who experiences the world differently from the majority may be considered neurodivergent, although there is not one universally agreed-upon list of conditions that fall under the term. Two of the most commonly recognized forms are autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

You might notice that OCD is not listed here, and this is because, although OCD has significant relevance when it comes to eating disorders, it is not universally considered to be a form of neurodivergence.

Now, while everybody is different, neurodivergent people can tend to have some pretty similar traits and tendencies.

For instance, many autistic individuals are easily overstimulated, sensitive to change, and find comfort in exactness and routine. Individuals with ADHD, on the other hand, may tend to be impulsive, forgetful or disorganized, restless, and become either incredibly absorbed in tasks or find it difficult to focus.

These same traits and experiences can sometimes intersect with eating disorders, specifically Anorexia Nervosa and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), which have strong associations with autism, as well as Bulimia Nervosa and binge eating disorder, which have been associated with ADHD.

Of course, this doesn't mean that being autistic or having ADHD causes an eating disorder. It means that the way a person experiences the world can influence how an eating disorder develops, looks, and is treated.

And I think that distinction is incredibly important.

When "Fitting In" Becomes Part of the Problem

Furthermore, "masking," a term used to describe the ways neurodivergent people may hide or suppress parts of themselves in order to fit in with their peers, has the potential to contribute to or worsen struggles with eating disorders. This is because masking can be rooted in the pressure to fit in and "fix your flaws." For someone already struggling, that pressure can turn into fixations on appearance, weight, and "eating as everybody else does."

These obsessions can be reinforced by parents, peers, or other people who may congratulate a child for appearing more "normal" while becoming frustrated or disappointed by behaviors they don't understand. At some point, it becomes hard to tell the difference between what you want and what other people have convinced you that you want. That is something I have thought about a lot in my own recovery.

So, What Happens After Treatment?

So, let's say a neurodivergent child is sent to a residential facility for an eating disorder.

Residential treatment can be incredibly important and, in many cases, necessary. It provides structure, safety, medical support, and a place to begin recovery when someone is too sick to do it at home.

But what happens when that person leaves?

This is where things can become complicated.

Treatment centers are designed to create a highly structured environment where eating disorder behaviors can be addressed and triggers and enablers can be carefully managed. While this can be incredibly helpful in the short term, the environment is also very different from everyday life.

Instead of simply learning how to survive without triggers, patients eventually have to learn how to manage those triggers when they return to the real world.

And then, usually with very little time to prepare, the patient is sent home.

Suddenly, everything is different.

They are once again surrounded by the environment, expectations, and relationships that existed before treatment. The people they met in treatment are no longer down the hall. The routines are different. The safety net feels different.

For someone who is neurodivergent, that transition can be especially overwhelming. It's heartbreaking to spend your life trying to convince literally anyone to want to spend time with you, only to finally find people who understand you and then have to leave them behind.

Sometimes, it can start to feel like you belong in treatment. But recovery can't only exist in treatment.

You have to learn how to live in the real world.

This Is Where Recover at Home Steps In.

Instead of being left to figure out the world for themselves, teens fighting eating disorders have the opportunity to meet with a trained coach in their own home, on their own terms. Someone who has recovered from an eating disorder themselves; who can offer support, perspective, and encouragement as both a mentor and someone who understands what it feels like to be there.

This one-on-one time allows the patient and coach to develop a genuine interpersonal connection, making it possible to work on recovery in the environment where the patient actually lives. And that matters.

Recovery doesn't happen in a bubble.

It happens at the kitchen table.

It happens at school.

It happens at restaurants.

It happens in the car.

It happens during family dinners, difficult conversations, stressful days, and moments when nobody is there to tell you exactly what to do.

That is also why understanding neurodivergence matters so much.

Coaches can help families better understand the difference between behaviors that are driven by an eating disorder and behaviors that may instead be connected to autism, ADHD, sensory needs, anxiety, or simply the way that individual person experiences the world. Some behaviors may include using small utensils, preferring to eat alone or in a low-stimulus environment, fidgeting, or wearing baggy or comfortable clothing.

Not every behavior is an eating disorder behavior. Sometimes, it's just a person trying to feel comfortable. Understanding that difference can prevent families from unintentionally demonizing behaviors that aren't actually coming from ED thoughts. Additionally, coaches can help patients work through relationships with family members, practice communicating their needs, and build supportive relationships with people who accept them for who they are.

Recovery Is More Than Weight

This process doesn't happen overnight, and it has no correlation with weight or looks. ED is a mental illness, so healing is about more than just weight restoration. Physical recovery is incredibly important, but so is learning how to live without allowing the eating disorder to make every decision for you.

Recovery means learning how to handle difficult emotions.

It means learning how to trust yourself again.

It means figuring out who you are outside of your eating disorder.

It means rebuilding relationships.

It means learning to ask for help without feeling like you've failed.

And it means learning that you don't have to become someone else in order to be worthy of recovery.

If I can say one thing from my own experience, it's this:

You don't have to be sick forever.

You don't have to spend the rest of your life in treatment. And you don't have to figure everything out alone.

One of the most difficult parts of recovery can be balancing independence and self-reliance with trust and learning when to lean on other people. That can be a daunting task for anyone, especially for someone who experiences the world differently. This is why having consistent, personalized support matters.

We Still Have So Much to Learn

It will take years—perhaps generations—of studying and researching to uncover all of the connections between neurodivergence and eating disorders, an endeavor Recover at Home fully supports.

However, in the meantime, we have to work with what we know. And what we know is this:

EDs aren't random—and they certainly aren't forever.

But getting better can get very complicated, very fast. For people who perceive and experience the world differently, recovery may require us to look beyond the eating disorder itself and understand the whole person. Sometimes, personalized support isn't about changing the person. It's about finally understanding them. And really, in the end, this seemingly random connection between neurodivergence and eating disorders may not be as unlikely as we once thought.

RAH Note: The author of this piece is a fully recovered eating disorder survivor who has chosen to remain anonymous for her privacy and safety. The views expressed are based on her personal experience and what she has learned throughout her recovery journey. While the author references research and commonly discussed connections between neurodivergence and eating disorders, formal references were not provided with the original piece. Recover at Home has preserved her voice and perspective while reviewing the article for clarity and context. Readers interested in learning more about the research surrounding these topics are encouraged to explore the clinical and academic resources or feel free to fill out a contact form to learn more.