Can controlling ADHD lead to weight loss?

About 6 months ago I switched jobs to one that involved a lot of physical activity. 3 months ago I had some depression and the doctor at the time chose to put me on the antidepressant that's always worked best. It also works on my ADHD though that wasn't the purpose. I had spent years with just behavioral controls for the ADHD.

The medicine is definitely working, I've cleaned and organized every cabinet and closet in the house. But at the same time I've apparently had some massive weight loss. I don't own a scale but I've lost almost 3 clothing sizes. I need to replace the belt I bought only 3 weeks ago. Measuring myself for online ordering has shown a loss of ½ to 1 inch everywhere during the last 3 weeks. The replacement clothes for those falling off are also now falling off.

It didn't make sense since most of my medicines cause weight gain and I'm not on any stimulants. Then I realized that instead of eating anything that looks good, I'm now asking myself if I really want what I'm seeing. And more often than not my answer is no, I just really want water, and I can follow through on just drinking water.

Can ADHD lead to impulsive eating? Can controlling the ADHD impulsivity lead to sudden weight loss?

Hello Jenna: I'm sorry I don't know the answers to your questions. But I noticed no one had replied to your post. So I thought I would. You mentioned you switched jobs to one that involves a lot of physical activity. So perhaps that has something to do with your weight loss too.

Personally I seem to be having the opposite problem. I have been keeping myself really thin in recent years. But a while back I put on about 4 pounds. And I just don't seem to be able to get rid of it. It's as if my body has decided it likes the extra weight & it's not going to give it up without a fight! Anyway, I hope you're happy with the weight you've lost & that, assuming you are, you find you can keep it off.

Thanks for responding.

Yeah, the physical activity has definitely played a part. But the extreme weight loss started shortly after the antidepressant was increased. I bought a belt not even a month ago and I already need to buy a smaller one. I stupidly replaced my wardrobe in late January/early February and now I'm too small for those clothes.

I'm not eating very much but there's no other symptoms of mania (I've got bipolar disorder as my main problem). When I asked myself why I wasn't eating, it's because while food looks good, I'm taking a moment to see if I really want it or not. That's a level of control I don't remember ever having.

Something I've noticed is that not taking my ADHD medication (which has varied in medication as well as dosage throughout my life) is what leads to impulsive eating, going through snack food like crazy. My pediatricians and later doctors, have said that the medication typically does lead to appetite loss. I know the feeling that the medication will just magically sustain you through the day. That, coupled with the high increase in physical activity, is what has contributed to your weight loss. You do need to make a conscious point to eat at lunch, even if you don't feel hungry, just to maintain weight.

I hope this helps you!

Thanks, it does. I'm glad that someone else also has the uncontrolled ADHD leads to impulsive eating.

I'm not on a stimulant so appetite suppression is not a factor. And since I'm in the "more to love" category, I really shouldn't try to maintain my current weight.

At least if I have to come off the medication I'll know an area of my life for behavioral controls.

An ADHD drug (Vyvanse is the brand name) was recently approved to treat Binge Eating Disorder, so yes, I think there likely is a connection between the impulsivity of untreated ADHD and eating impulsively. This would be a different mechanism than appetite suppressants and the way you described it (able to think about whether you actually want something before eating it) sounds like an impulsivity thing.

If it's Wellbutrin then that is one that I know is sometimes used for weight loss.