A lot of people affected with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ask this question persistently. This is why we are here to answer this question in comprehensive detail. So, can ADHD medication cause weight gain in Adults? Is it really true? Well, it is true that when you take medication for treating symptoms related to ADHD, there are some side-effects and one of them can be weight changes. Let’s discuss it in detail!
A Bit About ADHD
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD as it is usually called is one of the most common mental and neurodevelopmental disorders in the world. It is characterized by symptoms like hyperactivity and inattention that affect the attention span of the affected individual. While it cannot be cured, it can be managed with proper treatment. While most in common in children, it can evolve into adulthood.
How Can ADHD Medication Cause Weight Gain in Adults?
ADHD patients are prescribed stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall), which when taken by adults will cause them to lose weight due to the loss of appetite. These drugs also make you less hungry in general and increase the speed of your metabolism, due to which further changes in your weight become evident.
Do ADHD and weight gain relate?
So, one might ask how ADHD and weight gain relate then? The link between this is that once the initial weight-loss episode is over, the next phase tends to be weight gain. Once the effects of the medicine wear off, your hunger is hell-bent on coming back, and that too in a big way. This newfound feeling of hunger feeds into an entire binge-eating episode, which in turn leads to excessive gain in weight. But this is not the only reason.
In What Other Ways ADHD Contributes To Weight-Gain
ADHD can make you gain weight in a range of different ways that differ from the side effects of ADHD medication:
No Control Over Impulses:
Due to the hyperactivity part of ADHD, affected individuals have no control over their hunger impulses too. They can’t resist a piece of the pie or junk food that is in their line of sight. Due to this, people with ADHD are 5 times more likely to develop eating disorders such as Bulimia Nervosa.
Dopamine Levels:
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that is most prevalent in the region of the brain, where the “reward system” mechanism resides. This system is not properly wired in the brains of the people who are suffering from ADHD. They have low levels of dopamine, which is one of the main reasons they suffer from the ailment but this also contributes to loss of appetite. When taking medication, dopamine can over fluctuate, and can again lead to overeating and episodes of binge eating. Affected individuals crave foods that are junk and high in calories. This is another answer to your question, “Can ADHD Medication Cause Weight Gain in Adults?”
Personal Temperament:
Even all of us who don’t suffer from ADHD, have temperaments, so it is logical to consider that people with ADHD will also have temperaments. Differences in temperaments can also lead to weight changes in people with the said disorder. Temperament can refer to differences in the psychological traits that impact behavior. An example, when feeling uncertainty and avoiding uncertainty you seek instant gratification, which can lead to behavior that leads to weight gain.
ADHD Symptoms That Keep You From Eating Healthy
Bad eating habits that exist as a result of ADHD, also contribute to weight gain, especially in the context of the question, “Can ADHD Medication Cause Weight Gain in Adults”. Adults with ADHD tend to:
- Find it hard to exercise and follow the discipline of a low-calorie diet
- Have trouble managing stress, which can overeating as a coping mechanism
- Lack attention and, therefore never realize that they are full
- Feel bored, which can also lead to binge-eating episodes
- Have trouble focusing, which makes them stray away from healthy foods at restaurants & supermarkets and cooking them at home
Is There A Link Between ADHD and Obesity?
Can ADHD make you gain weight and lead to obesity? Probably not. While there are some overlapping symptoms in terms of hereditary and lineage, no link has been established as of yet between them. This only means that both of these ailments do not have a simple cause-and-effect relationship but they both can co-occur due to a range of different factors such as the ones described previously.
Recent studies suggest adults with ADHD are more likely to develop obesity due to bad eating habits brought upon by the former ailment, with a 70% probability. While children develop coexisting ailments, the chances are much lower.
How People With ADHD Can Control Weight Gain?
First of all, everything a normal person does to control their weight can be done by people with ADHD. The only difference is that they have to make a little more effort than what is required by normal people usually. For starters, junk food and snacking material should be off-limits and should be kept out of reach.
Secondly, try to eat healthy food instead no matter how much you crave snacking. Replace snacks like potato chips and chocolates with nutritious sources like nuts, protein bars, fruits, vegetable sticks like carrots, or even low-fat yogurt
Thirdly, you can also make a list of healthy items that you can get and stick to that list when you visit the supermarket. Do not buy anything extra. To avoid this extra shopping of junk food, avoid going to the market at shorter intervals. Buy groceries in bulk, so that you don’t have to visit the supermarket again and again. Alternatively, you can use a food service that sells healthy food items.
Additionally, when hyperactivity becomes a problem for you, that time can be used for exercise, which will not only help with the ADHD symptoms but will also help improve your overall health. You can also go for yoga, meditation, and walking if high-intensity exercise is not suitable for you.
Treating ADHD
Changes in weight are a side-effect of medication for ADHD. Treating ADHD directly can treat those changes in weight by proxy. While medication is one of the ways ADHD can be treated, there are other outlets that can be tried for treating ADHD, so your worries like “Can ADHD medication cause weight gain in adults” can rest. Here are some treatments that can be used for treating ADHD with a bit of information on its medication too:
Psychotherapies
Treating Adults with ADHD can be done via psychotherapies from trained professionals and once done, these can be extremely beneficial. Before going on medication, mental health wellness centers should always be on the lookout for whether “Talk Therapies” like these are suitable or not. Therapies are always a better alternative to medication, especially considering the fact that medication is known for side effects like changes in weight. Some of these are:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
If you are still wondering, “Can ADHD medication cause weight gain in adults?” then this is the therapy to go for. If it can help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), then it can surely help with ADHD. CBT is a kind of talk therapy that a mental health expert can use to treat different types of mental disorders including ADHD. CBT treats mental conditions by creating discussions with the patients on the negative thought processes in things like thinking, mood, and personality and identifies how these processes are adversely affecting their behavior. Experts will help with the resolution of the problematic patterns in the behavior.
Family or Marriage Therapy:
This is another type of talk therapy where the relationships are observed and identification of their fault lines that might be leading a relationship to extinction are identified. The pillars or the “glue” that keeps them together are also discussed and emphasized upon to find resolutions. In this context, therapies like these can be thoroughly advantageous to adults with ADHD. It is because these therapies help members or partners cope with related stress and impart knowledge about how to deal with an affected member or partner.
Medication Management
Psychiatric medication management can be done through different types of medicines that are made for ADHD: Stimulants and Non-stimulants. For the right amount of dosage, please consult a psychiatrist or therapist.
Stimulants:
These are the medicines such as methylphenidate or amphetamine and are the most commonly prescribed ones for ADHD. They are commonly prescribed for a reason, as they focus on boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine to decrease the symptoms of ADHD. There is just one drawback: The side effects. As we have previously mentioned before, stimulants can also stimulate side effects like weight gain, sometimes directly and indirectly.
Non-Stimulants:
Examples include atomoxetine, clonidine, and guanfacine. These work slower but work well when they do as there are no side effects. You can try this type of treatment to avoid side effects like weight gain.
ADHD Coaching:
Practical support for individuals suffering from ADHD. ADHD coaches help with everyday activities like time management, completion of tasks, and general organization.
The Answer to Your Question, “Can ADHD Medication Cause Weight Gain In Adults?”
We have laid out a comprehensive answer to your question, “Can ADHD medication Cause Weight Gain In Adults”. To some extent it also answers the question, “Can ADHD make you gain weight?” All you have to keep in mind is that while there is no cure for ADHD, treatment is always available and in different forms. In addition to that, these services can be continuously available virtually from Inland Empire Behavioural Group. All you have to do is book an appointment for you or your loved one if they are suffering from ADHD at Inland Empire Behavioural Group.
