The 5% of school-age children in the UK with ADHD (or ADHD) have been shined into an unexpected spotlight.This comes after Joe Wicks revealed that he suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) last week, suggesting that poor eating habits are the culprit. Here, Jess Joy, co-founder of the Instagram platform @IAmPayingAttend, is empowered by her own diagnosis as an adult in 2021, but points out an important message that got lost in the heated debate. Masu…
Whether you’re up on the subject of ADHD or not, you’ve probably heard Joe Wicks share his thoughts on the condition, which affects 2.6 million people of all ages in the UK. Sho. The 38-year-old PT, who used her pandemic-era children’s physical education lessons to launch an equally successful healthy living brand from workouts to cookbooks, recently received a diagnosis. As such, and was aware of the misconceptions that are prevalent in this area – I am concerned that this is one area where he may need to educate himself a bit.
To keep you all up to date, Mr Wicks, also known as The Body Coach, told the BBC Radio 5 Live Headliners podcast that if he were a child in 2024, his misbehavior at school would be ADHD. He said he believed his condition had been diagnosed as being related to. Meals at his home. “There is no question that the food I was eating was directly linked to my actions,” he said.
“I’ve never been diagnosed with ADHD, but I think it’s pretty common these days that all kids are diagnosed with ADHD. And a lot of it’s because of what we eat. I think it’s because of my diet and the food I eat.” So, when I think about my eating habits, breakfast consists of cereal, concentrated juice from the milkman, Sunny Delight, Wagon Wheel, and a jam-only sandwich. , Nutella, had almost no nutrients and was pure sugar. ”
Following backlash from people with ADHD, experts in the field and charity leaders, Mr Wicks took to Instagram to claim his words had been misunderstood. “Basically the headline that came out of it was ‘Joe Wicks says ADHD is caused by poor eating habits,'” he told the cameras. “Now I know that’s not true, that’s not true – and I believe it. I would never do that and never say that.
“This is a neurodivergent disease that affects the brain. There are many factors involved. I believe that food has a huge impact. ADHD affects our mood and , I think it has a huge impact on your ability to sit still and concentrate, as well as your energy and mental health.”
ADHD and Children – Food for Thought
Having listened to Wicks’ interview and his follow-up video, I truly believe his intentions were not malicious. But I think his lack of education and understanding of the actual reality of many ADHD people is clear.
For years, research has investigated whether there is a link between this condition and diet. For example, his 14 years of research was Attention Disorder Journal suggested that a Western-style diet with higher levels of fat, calories, and sugar may be associated with increased incidence in children. butEven researchers point out that this only highlights a possible correlation. do not have That was the cause.
ADHD UK responded to Mr Wicks’ comments, saying: “There is not just one cause of ADHD. It is thought to be the result of a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors, and genetic factors have a 70% to 80% chance of causing ADHD. %.
What gets lost in all of this is that parents of children with ADHD may be limited in what they can feed them. It’s not as simple as piling vegetables on a plate. Even the authors of the aforementioned study pointed out that this association could be explained by the fact that children crave certain foods, in this case less nutritious ones, because they provide comfort. are doing.
How to Not Fit In: An Unabashed Guide to Surviving Autism and ADHD
How to Not Fit In: An Unabashed Guide to Surviving Autism and ADHD
In fact, for people with strong brains like me, eating healthy is often not as easy as it is for others. In addition to being diagnosed with ADHD, I am also autistic (research has found that up to 70% of people with autism also have ADHD), and my lifelong journey with food was complicated to say the least.
Many autistic people rely heavily on “safe” foods that happen to be ultra-processed due to their predictable nature. They also typically do not differ in taste or texture, whereas other foods such as vegetables and meat can vary widely from batch to batch. Wholesale demonization of processed and “unhealthy” foods is a reminder that for some sections of society they can be a godsend – getting energy from something instead of nothing. You will be ignored.
A healthy diet can help, but it’s not that simple
Of course, a nutritious diet has both mental and physical benefits. One of the reasons Wicks’ comments about ADHD and diet caught my attention is because I don’t think ultra-processed foods are possible because of the evidence that they are effective for his autoimmune disease Lupus, which he was diagnosed with in 2014. Because I was trying to avoid it as much as possible.
I also agree with him that some foods make you feel better than others. However, “healthy” food for me might be a little different. For me they have the power to keep my energy up, not leave me physically sore, and take into account how my brain works, unlike the days when I would forget to take anything but coffee until 3pm. This includes things that can be realistically managed. For me, “healthy” food is also food that makes me happy. Not only because it tastes good, but also because it contains important nutrients that are good for me and I can figuratively pat myself on the back when I eat it.
However, this was difficult to put into practice. Cooking from scratch is a big challenge for me, whether it’s struggling to find the energy, staying alert, feeling overwhelmed by the huge number of steps, or experiencing sensory issues. Moreover, even if you knew that expensive food items were better for you, you didn’t necessarily have the money to buy them.
In recent years, especially since understanding my neurodivergent brain, I have been able to find approaches to eating that help nourish my body and meet my physical needs. To positively and sustainably change your relationship with food. I tend to think about things in black and white, which is common for neurodivergent people, but I’ve had to work hard to find a healthy balance.
But getting here required knowledge and abilities I didn’t always have. The reality is that not everyone has the disposable energy or financial resources to eliminate ultra-processed foods, nor is it always feasible. Those people don’t need to feel any more shame than they already do for struggling with “healthy” eating, just like me.
I have the budget and energy to make raw alternatives these days. But if any of these change, there’s really no shame in replacing your fruit and nut butter combo porridge with a store-bought protein bar.
The discussion Wicks inadvertently generated also made me think about ADHD, especially the lack of empathy that is sometimes included in conversations centered around the disorder.
Despite all the changes I’ve made to my diet, I still have ADHD. I continue to struggle with concentration, memory, organization, and accidentally interrupt people during conversations. Sure, it’s given me extra energy and improved my mental health slightly, but the fact remains that I still find it difficult to manage.
I’m concerned that, intentionally or not, Wicks’ comments are feeding into the narrative that the neurodivergent community is not. sufficientIn a society that largely refuses to acknowledge our struggles. Like everyone else in the disability community, people with brains like ours, and their caregivers, deserve support.
Because in order for people to be able to make positive changes in their eating habits, they need to have self-compassion, and no one is unwilling to change themselves. Now, in 2024, let’s spend more time understanding our neurodivergent experiences here rather than “where” they come from.
