Weight struggles and a lifelong battle for fitness
For decades, I struggled with my weight, without ever understanding why. There were the usual bursts of motivation, such as joining gyms or running marathons, but I could never maintain consistency. Turns out, it wasn’t laziness or a lack of willpower that was to blame; it was ADHD.
I remember being nine years old, sitting on my bed, looking down at my body and wondering, Where did all this fat come from? Up until then, I was just like any other kid in the 1970s—active, happy, and healthy, but suddenly, unlike my friends, my body began to change. It’s no coincidence that ADHD symptoms tend to first show up around the age of nine in boys, but back then, I didn’t know what was happening. I just knew I was different. Sugar and carbs became an obsession. I also had a grandmother who would spend every Sunday baking cakes and feeding me the results. My energy levels began to fluctuate, and I’d lose the motivation to do much (including school work).
In a classroom where being overweight was unusual, not only was I “the fat kid”, but I was the undiagnosed ADHD kid too. The worst episode that I remember was sitting on the edge of my classroom desk when it broke. The hysterical laughter of thirty or so fourteen-year-olds couldn’t drown out my feelings of shame. Eventually, the teasing led to isolation, and as deep feelings of shame and confusion arose, my self-esteem plummeted. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t reduce my weight.
ADHD doesn’t just affect attention; it impacts motivation, impulse control, and emotional regulation, too. Years later, it’s all beginning to make sense. For example, I could commit to extreme goals like the Great North Run, but once the event was over, I’d stop training. I’d binge eat or starve myself, swinging between extremes. I tried every diet imaginable, but only the most restrictive ones (like 800 calories a day) ever worked, at least temporarily. The reason we folks with ADHD respond well to extreme measures is down to the tenacity of the ADHD mind. I could be absolutely focused on losing weight for an event, e.g. dropping 20kgs before my wedding, but within a year of married life, I’d gained half of it back. Even during Marathon training, which took place a year after my wedding, I still didn’t lose weight. I have both the obese and ADHD genes, so my predisposition towards being overweight is dominated by genetics, according to the Medical Management of Obesity training course.
This cycle isn’t just frustrating—it’s dangerous. I experienced multiple episodes of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a stress-induced heart condition often linked to ADHD. I found myself in ambulances, looking down at my belly, wondering how I got there. When I finally got my diagnosis at 53, lost jigsaw pieces coming together to form a clearer picture, things began to make sense.
The constant mental noise, the impulsive eating, the inability to stick to routines — it all had a name. Listening to a Gabor Mate podcast on a journey to the coast was a turning point. Dr Mate listed all his ADHD symptoms, all of which I had. They were primarily inattentive and hypoactive, like most other people; I’d only heard of hyperactivity. Getting a diagnosis allowed me to start the medication journey. I had several unsuccessful months on Concerta until I discussed how I felt with a psychiatrist who immediately switched my medication to Elvanse. Finally, a medication that worked! Feeling ‘normal’, possibly for the first time in my life, taking ADHD medication changed everything. I felt calmer, more focused, and less anxious in my own body. I stopped obsessively picking at food. I had more energy and a natural desire to exercise. For the first time, I was able to establish consistent habits. Alongside ADHD treatment, I also began taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a medication used for obesity and type 2 diabetes and the results were life-changing. So far, I’ve lost 30 kilograms and gained a new understanding of how ADHD and how genetics has shaped my relationship with food and fitness.
If you don’t meet the criteria for Mounjaro, but are taking ADHD medication, you may find that your activity levels increase along with your resting metabolic rate. There is nothing worse than telling someone with ADHD, when they are on medication, that they need to exercise, especially if they’re hyperactive. So wait until the medication is right, and then we can discuss the next steps together regarding training, going to the gym, walking more, etc. Levels of exercise have a direct impact on ADHD symptom reduction, and together with the proper medication, for the first time, many of my patients actually lose weight because they no longer need to pick up snacks all day long.
Just like when I skip Mounjaro, my body feels hungrier, when I skip ADHD medication, my mind feels chaotic again. Aged fifty-five, fitter than I was at thirty-five, it finally feels as though I’ve found the magic ingredients to a healthy, happy life, which is where you come in. Having been able to get off the rollercoaster ride that was a lifetime of weight gain, I set out to understand the emotional, genetic, and neurobiological factors that contribute to weight struggles in people with ADHD. To achieve this, I completed my training in the medical management of obesity. It’s also worth noting that the relationship between the gut biome and the brain, particularly regarding the reduction of processed food, can decrease inflammation and provide net benefits for the ADHD brain.
I wake up most days with motivation and a clear mind. I’m no longer consumed by shame, and I’m living proof that with the correct diagnosis, treatment, and support, things can change. If you’re living with ADHD and struggling to maintain a healthy weight, I understand. I’ve been there. And given the multitude of ways available to treat it, believe me when I say you don’t need to live this way.
Feel free to reach out through The ADHD Specialists. Together, we can explore options that work for you.