Anonymous
11/18/2025 13:43
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
Compulsive eating is a thing in its own right.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 13:32
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
Yes, and we decided as a family not to keep any junk food in the house, so we don't have any ice cream, chips, cookies, etc. I stay healthy by keeping high-protein snacks around and plenty of cut fresh fruit, vegetables, and chicken kabobs in the fridge. Honestly, cleansing the house of junk has been good for the whole family.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 12:59
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
Could be a combo of the ADHD medicine wearing off so his impulse control is low, but also if the meds are stimulants, they're appetite suppressants so he might actually need more food during the day than he's getting. So he's starving by dinner but wasn't aware of it due to the meds, and then it's a double whammy of hunger cues between the meds wearing off and natural hunger.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 12:50
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
My DD did this. Lots of sneaking food and hiding (perishable) food items in other places. We ended up putting a lock on your refrigerator overnight. Am I proud of this? No. But nothing else was working.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 12:43
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
My ADHD DS14 did more binge eating when he was younger but he still will eat things compulsively now. He’s on Vyvanse and that helps.
He’ll binge eat candy and cereal if it’s available. He used to binge eat regular sandwich bread and cucumbers when nothing else snacky was available. As in hide under our dining table with the bread and eat the whole bag.
Right now, we don’t buy certain things unless we’re okay with him eating all of it in a five hour span. We don’t buy commercial ore-cut sandwich bread (we do have bread loaves from a bakery). We buy cereal a handful of times a year. We don’t often have chips, cookies, seaweed, apple sauce, etc. We let him binge on chocolate milk a couple times a month.
We’ve talked to some professionals about it and some had good ideas. But this isn’t a well resourced space.
He’s normal weight and is very active in his sport.
He’ll binge eat candy and cereal if it’s available. He used to binge eat regular sandwich bread and cucumbers when nothing else snacky was available. As in hide under our dining table with the bread and eat the whole bag.
Right now, we don’t buy certain things unless we’re okay with him eating all of it in a five hour span. We don’t buy commercial ore-cut sandwich bread (we do have bread loaves from a bakery). We buy cereal a handful of times a year. We don’t often have chips, cookies, seaweed, apple sauce, etc. We let him binge on chocolate milk a couple times a month.
We’ve talked to some professionals about it and some had good ideas. But this isn’t a well resourced space.
He’s normal weight and is very active in his sport.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 12:31
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
OP here. My son plays soccer and flag football and is outside quite a bit. Very active. He is also on ADHD meds. Eats a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He is a great eater in terms of variety, but does have a peanut allergy. When his meds kick in, he is focused and usually great about eating and food choices. It is the flanking hours, basically 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. that is crazy in terms of eating. He just cannot control the impulses.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 11:24
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
Absolutely talk to his therapist and a dietitian, but reframe in your mind so that you are talking to him about developing good habits: moving his body every day, balancing fuel like protein and healthy food with sweets and other snacks.
I have issues around food myself (was a fat teenager) and it is really hard to separate what's my issue from what is actually going on with my kids. I have three sons and each went through puberty in a different way - one ate normally and got skinny and is now normal weight, one ate like a horse, remained skinny but has now put on muscle and is normal weight and the last guy put on 40 pounds (!) then lost 40 pounds (1) and is now normal weight in great shape. He had to have his own journey.
I have issues around food myself (was a fat teenager) and it is really hard to separate what's my issue from what is actually going on with my kids. I have three sons and each went through puberty in a different way - one ate normally and got skinny and is now normal weight, one ate like a horse, remained skinny but has now put on muscle and is normal weight and the last guy put on 40 pounds (!) then lost 40 pounds (1) and is now normal weight in great shape. He had to have his own journey.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 11:12
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
Also want to add — does he play a sport? I would worry more about making sure he has some activity and that what he is eating is protein and whole grains and fiber …. And then not worry at all about the quantity, at least at this point. Just establish healthy patterns but don’t limit quantity of food for a growing boy in puberty. I think doing that is more likely to end in long term eating disregulation and control battles (which are huge for boys with adhd).
Anonymous
11/18/2025 11:09
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
I have adhd and binge ate at that age. It is a thing. Meds will help if it’s a problem.
But specifically at this age, it’s really really common for boys to eat a whole extra meal. Mine does that regularly. And it’s also pretty common for kids to grow one way before growing the other way — so some shoot yo and are lanky then flesh out while others get chubby and then stretch out. Since he’s eating basically real food, I wouldn’t stress that much about it, but I might make sure he is getting enough protein — milk, etc. we keep those small Costco precooked chicken packets and my son will just eat them plain, or on frozen brown rice with beans, as a quick extra meal. Bananas also. Sometimes an apple. All healthy filling food. I definitely would not tell a 12 year old boy he can’t eat an extra meal during the day — they really need it. They are growing so fast they get stretch marks and joint pain. It’s a lot.
But specifically at this age, it’s really really common for boys to eat a whole extra meal. Mine does that regularly. And it’s also pretty common for kids to grow one way before growing the other way — so some shoot yo and are lanky then flesh out while others get chubby and then stretch out. Since he’s eating basically real food, I wouldn’t stress that much about it, but I might make sure he is getting enough protein — milk, etc. we keep those small Costco precooked chicken packets and my son will just eat them plain, or on frozen brown rice with beans, as a quick extra meal. Bananas also. Sometimes an apple. All healthy filling food. I definitely would not tell a 12 year old boy he can’t eat an extra meal during the day — they really need it. They are growing so fast they get stretch marks and joint pain. It’s a lot.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 11:07
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
Anonymous wrote:My ADHD 7th grader has gained an enormous amount of weight in the last year or so. We figured out he is sneaking food when we are out of eyesight and eats full on meals when he gets home from school. We are careful to have healthy balanced meals and snacks, and we are eliminating the sugary and fun items - ice creams, popsicles, candy, cookies, etc. But he makes up for it by having huge amounts of pasta and bread, chips and queso, etc. at all hours.
Does anyone else have a child like this? How do you handle food in your house, especially its availability when you are not around? Short of putting locks on all of our cabinets and refrigerator, I'm not sure what to do. He gets home before us, and we are trying to arrange a schedule so we can get home sooner to police his eating. He just has zero impulse control when it comes to food and we are struggling to find a way to help him.
We have a doctor appointment coming up where we will discuss this, but if any parents have dealt with this issue and have any advice, I'd love to hear it. I know puberty is hitting, but this amount of sneaky eating goes far beyond growth spurts.
OP, as a registered dietitian who has worked with this population, there are so many things going on here that you need to explore.
Is he on medication for the ADHD? That affects appetite and food impulse eating tremendously.
What does he eat during the day at school? Does he eat breakfast?
What is his growth/ weight history?
I would suggest that you contact a registered dietitian who can work with you on this. Look to your health insurance for referrals, or go to the web site of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, www.eatright.org, put in your zip code, and look for specialists in your area.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 11:02
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
Thanks! I will talk to his therapist as well.
I also appreciate the nod to growth spurts. As a female, I definitely did not hit growth spurts like he does. I'm really hoping this is more about puberty than eating disorder, but want to be ready for both!
Thanks all! I appreciate the guidance!!
I also appreciate the nod to growth spurts. As a female, I definitely did not hit growth spurts like he does. I'm really hoping this is more about puberty than eating disorder, but want to be ready for both!
Thanks all! I appreciate the guidance!!
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:51
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
It is also possible that he is about to hit a growth spurt, which may account for some of the weight gain. I would approach this very carefully, because teenage boys need to eat way more food than middle age moms think is reasonable.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:19
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
Binge eating disorder and ADHD are often co-morbid. Stimulants do help. Vyvanse is the only drug approved for BED.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 09:58
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
You want to see a therapist who specializes in eating disorders, if possible. I wouldn't wait for the doctor to get you a referral.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 09:56
Subject: ADHD tween binge eating
My ADHD 7th grader has gained an enormous amount of weight in the last year or so. We figured out he is sneaking food when we are out of eyesight and eats full on meals when he gets home from school. We are careful to have healthy balanced meals and snacks, and we are eliminating the sugary and fun items - ice creams, popsicles, candy, cookies, etc. But he makes up for it by having huge amounts of pasta and bread, chips and queso, etc. at all hours.
Does anyone else have a child like this? How do you handle food in your house, especially its availability when you are not around? Short of putting locks on all of our cabinets and refrigerator, I'm not sure what to do. He gets home before us, and we are trying to arrange a schedule so we can get home sooner to police his eating. He just has zero impulse control when it comes to food and we are struggling to find a way to help him.
We have a doctor appointment coming up where we will discuss this, but if any parents have dealt with this issue and have any advice, I'd love to hear it. I know puberty is hitting, but this amount of sneaky eating goes far beyond growth spurts.
Does anyone else have a child like this? How do you handle food in your house, especially its availability when you are not around? Short of putting locks on all of our cabinets and refrigerator, I'm not sure what to do. He gets home before us, and we are trying to arrange a schedule so we can get home sooner to police his eating. He just has zero impulse control when it comes to food and we are struggling to find a way to help him.
We have a doctor appointment coming up where we will discuss this, but if any parents have dealt with this issue and have any advice, I'd love to hear it. I know puberty is hitting, but this amount of sneaky eating goes far beyond growth spurts.