Neurodivergent People
Neurodivergent people face an increased risk of developing an eating disorder, with sensory sensitivities, rigid thinking patterns, and interoceptive differences being key contributing factors.
Neurodivergence is an umbrella term that is often used to describe a range of different experiences and conditions – such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and sensory processing differences.
For many neurodivergent people, their experience of an eating disorder may not be associated with body image concerns but instead can centre around sensory sensitivities with specific foods, or around difficulty identifying feeling hungry or full.
Given that eating disorders in neurodivergent people may present differently, this means symptoms can be overlooked or misdiagnosed, and barriers to accessing care can occur.
Treatment and healthcare approaches need to shift away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Affirming, neurodivergent-informed care is essential – eating disorder treatment must accommodate an individual’s sensory needs, communication differences and unique lived experience.
Did you know?
- Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is estimated to affect up to 21% of autistic individuals. ¹
- Around 70% of autistic children experience atypical eating behaviours. ²
- Girls with ADHD are over 3 times more likely to meet the criteria for an eating disorder. ³
“Once I had my autism diagnosis, I was able to work with treatment professionals who understood the link between anorexia, autism and ARFID.
After years of conventional treatment failing, [now I had] a plan and structure that worked for me, accommodated my sensory requirements, and gave me a sustainable, achievable path to recovery.”
– Tara, Lived Experience Advocate
Additional Resources
¹ Koomar T., Thomas TR., Pottschmidt NR., Lutter M, & Michaelson JJ. (2021). Estimating the Prevalence and Genetic Risk Mechanisms of ARFID in a Large Autism Cohort. Front Psychiatry.
² Mayes, SD., & Zickgraf, H. (2019). Atypical eating behaviors in children and adolescents with autism, ADHD, other disorders, and typical development. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 64, 76-83.
³ Biederman, J., Ball, S. W., Monuteaux, M. C., Surman, C. B., Johnson, J. L., & Zeitlin, S. (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.
- Bourne, L., Mandy, W., & Bryant‐Waugh, R. (2022). Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder and severe food selectivity in children and young people with autism: A scoping review. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 64(6), 691-700.
- Brede, J., Babb, C., Jones, C., Elliott, M., Zanker, C., Tchanturia, K., … & Mandy, W. (2020). “For me, the anorexia is just a symptom, and the cause is the autism”: Investigating restrictive eating disorders in autistic women. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 50(12), 4280-4296.
- Carpita, B., Muti, D., Cremone, I. M., Fagiolini, A., & Dell’Osso, L. (2022). Eating disorders and autism spectrum: Links and risks. CNS spectrums, 27 (3), 272-280.
- Huke, V., Turk, J., Saeidi, S., Kent, A., & Morgan, J. F. (2013). Autism spectrum disorders in eating disorder populations: a systematic review. European Eating Disorders Review, 21(5), 345-351.
- Makin, L., Meyer, A., Chubinidze, D., Mondelli, V., & Tchanturia, K. (2025). Bingeing as an ADHD-related strategy: a qualitative study of experiences of Neurodivergent and potentially Neurodivergent adults with bulimic-spectrum eating disorders. Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity.
- Makin, L., Meyer, A., Mondelli, V., & Tchanturia, K. (2026). Regulating with food: a qualitative study of Neurodivergent experiences in adults with binge eating disorder. Journal of Eating Disorders, 14(1), 13.
- Nazar, B. P., Bernardes, C., Peachey, G., Sergeant, J., Mattos, P., & Treasure, J. (2016). The risk of eating disorders comorbid with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 49(12), 1045-1057.
- Sader, M., Weston, A., Buchan, K., Kerr‐Gaffney, J., Gillespie‐Smith, K., Sharpe, H., & Duffy, F. (2025). The Co‐occurrence of autism and Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): a prevalence‐based meta‐analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 58(3), 473-488.
- Villa, F. M., Crippa, A., Rosi, E., Nobile, M., Brambilla, P., & Delvecchio, G. (2023). ADHD and eating disorders in childhood and adolescence: An updated minireview. Journal of Affective Disorders, 321, 265-271.
Getting support
If you’re worried that yourself or a loved one may be struggling with an eating disorder or body image concerns, it’s important to seek help right away. Contact the Butterfly National Helpline for confidential and free support, by calling 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673) or visit www.butterfly.org.au to chat online or email, 7 days a week, 8am-midnight AEDT/AEST.
To find eating disorder specialists in your area, who have experience supporting neurodivergent clients, you can use our Referral Database and filter by ‘neurodivergent populations’.
