Obesity

I saw a video recently where two people were talking about this topic and they blamed it solely on drugs, alcohol, smoking and bad choices, this is wrong, and a misunderstanding, It is mainly driven by our struggles with executive dysfunctions that permeate every area of life in a world designed for neurotypicals that have high executive functioning.

I want to talk about a topic that is very close to me. My aunt died in her sixties, aside from other health problems, the circumstance I believe were due to undiagnosed ADHD and lack of support, a lot of misunderstanding and a lot of judgements around her leading to critical isolation and preventable early death.

I made a good friend in the pandemic that I believe also was an undiagnosed ADHD woman in her late forties who died in similar circumstances that could have been prevented and mitigated due to the following 5 issues that ADHD people struggle with.

5 Reasons Why ADHD People Have a Shorter Life Span than Neurotypicals

Studies suggest that individuals with ADHD may have a shorter life expectancy compared to neurotypical individuals, primarily due to increased risks related to accidents, impulsivity, substance abuse, and health complications. Research indicates that:

On average, people with ADHD may live 8 to 13 years less than neurotypical individuals.

A 2019 study by Dr. Russell Barkley found that severe ADHD cases might reduce lifespan by up to 25 years in extreme cases due to poor self-regulation, increased stress, and unhealthy lifestyle choices.

The biggest contributing factors are higher rates of accidental injuries, risk-taking behaviors, obesity, and untreated mental health conditions.

However, proper diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes (such as therapy, medication, exercise, and structured routines) can help mitigate these risks and improve longevity.

Would you like strategies to help improve life expectancy and health outcomes for ADHD?

Why Do ADHD Adults Have a Shorter Lifespan?

1. Executive Dysfunction & Life Management Struggles

Difficulty maintaining a livable environment (clutter, unsafe conditions).

Forgetting to eat properly or drink enough water.

Inconsistent hygiene and self-care routines.

Poor financial management leading to stress and instability.

Forgetting or mismanaging medication, missing doctor appointments.

2. Higher Risk of Accidents & Injuries

Impulsivity increases risk-taking behavior (reckless driving, not wearing seatbelts, unsafe sex, etc.).

Forgetfulness and inattention can lead to accidents, fires, injuries.

Difficulty following through on preventive health care (checkups, screenings,).

3. Chronic Stress, Burnout, & Mental Health Issues

ADHD is often accompanied by anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation.

Difficulty managing stress leads to higher cortisol levels, which contribute to heart disease and other health issues.

Overwhelm and burnout reduce motivation to take care of oneself.

4. Social Isolation & Support Gaps

Struggles with maintaining friendships and relationships.

Lack of a strong support system, which affects mental health.

Social rejection leads to loneliness, which increases mortality risk.

5. Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

Higher likelihood of using alcohol, smoking, drugs, or food to self-soothe.

Irregular sleep patterns and chronic sleep deprivation (which increases risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes).

Is It Just Poor Choices? No—It’s a Systemic Issue.

It’s not just about making "bad choices"; it’s about living in a world that isn’t designed for ADHD brains. Neurotypical life requires strong executive functioning, which ADHD people struggle with. This leads to constant small failures (missed bills, health neglect, disorganization), which add up over time and take a toll on both physical and mental health.

What Can Help?

Externalized systems: Reminders, alarms, habit trackers, accountability partners.

Simplified self-care: Small, sustainable habits instead of all-or-nothing thinking.

ADHD-friendly financial management: Automated payments, budgeting apps, financial therapy.

Preventative healthcare: Setting appointments in advance, pairing medication with daily habits.

Community & support: Finding ADHD-friendly groups like The Mighty, find an ADHD check in buddy, coaching, therapy, and social connections.

Would you say your struggles fall mostly in one category, or is it a mix of everything?

I was planning on making this post on the same day I felt powerless, but I didn’t feel like making a post that day.

Last Saturday on March, 8th, I ended up having another depression episode after a whole month of not having any depression episodes. On that day, I took my antidepressant at 9:00 am, but then at 11:23 am, I started feeling depressed.

I ended up listening to music for about 50 minutes like I always do, and let whatever thoughts I had out. Then after listening to music, I decided to write out whatever I was feeling and whatever thoughts I had on my journal.

I felt powerless for the entire 50 minutes. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t because I didn’t want to cry in front of my mother and younger brothers.

I felt powerless because no matter how hard I try, I could never get myself to do anything. Every single time my disorder prevents me from succeeding in life which is why I felt like a failure and powerless.

I felt powerless knowing that later in the future I’m going to end up getting diabetes along with other health problems due to my obesity, and knowing that there’s nothing I can do about it because I know my ADHD will keep me from trying. Sometimes I just feel completely paralyzed like I’m not in control of my body, and I’m forced to just sit there and wait for the inevitable to come.

Admittedly, sometimes I do wish I was born differently. I do wish I never had ADHD in the first place. That’s the entire reason why I’ve been depressed for a long time. I tell myself I’m not a failure, but I don’t feel convinced. I just feel like I’m only lying to myself.

I’m currently off the antidepressants as I ran out of them on Tuesday. I’m not going to get a refill until my next doctor’s appointment which is not until March 18th. I’ve been on antidepressants for a month now. I only had 2 episodes of depression as of now (1 during my first two weeks of taking antidepressants and the other that occurred a week ago, recently). #Depression #ADHD

I had my doctor’s appointment on November last year. On the day of my appointment, I had a basic checkup as usual. When my doctor came inside the room, she told me that I’ve gained 20 more pounds since the last appointment (that was about 6 months before the appointment). My doctor proceeded to tell me that if I don’t change my lifestyle, I will not only get diabetes, I will also end up having problems with my liver (Non Alcoholic Liver disease) by the time I’m in my 30s or if not sooner. My BMI is 40, which is already extreme obesity.

When she told me that, I finally decided to tell my doctor about my mental health and the reason why I’m unable to change. I told her about how my disorder, ADHD, is keeping me from changing my lifestyle and how it’s affected other areas in my life. I told her that because of my inability to change, it took a toll on my mental health. The only reason why I finally decided to say something instead of remain silent was because I truthfully don’t want to have health problems at a young age. I know that if I don’t do anything about my mental health, my physical health will grow worse until I eventually start suffering from health problems related to diabetes.

My doctor sent a referral to a counselor which I’m scheduled to go to in about 2 weeks. To be quite honest, I’m doubtful that a counselor can actually help me. I don’t think anybody can help me. I just feel like I’m unfixable. I don’t want to suffer with major health problems in the future, but at the same time it’s hard for me to change. I’m in a position where I’m just stuck, like I’m forced to just sit and wait for fate to decide what will happen to me. #Obesity #ADHD

It’s been approximately 2 years since I’ve last posted, and I will admit a lot has changed.

Two years ago I was in a dark place. I felt hopeless, and I saw myself as a failure. When I was younger, I never really understood what was wrong with me, and as a result, I chose to not seek professional help because I felt nobody would understand me especially since I didn’t know what I was going through myself.

Thinking back now, I now understand that my ADHD + my medication for ADHD (I no longer take this medication) is the reason why my mental health went downhill. ADHD affects my ability to do certain important tasks, and it also affects my ability to take care of my hygiene and physical health.

At the same time, I also lacked social skills because I spent most of my life inside the house doing nothing but playing games and watch YouTube. Because of my inability to get myself to do anything combined with my lack of friends, I felt lonely and like a failure. I saw myself as a failure because I couldn’t get myself motivated enough to do simple things such as getting myself a job or basically anything.

That’s why, I decided to plan my suicide after graduating high school, but at the last minute I hesitated so instead, I waited for my mom to kick me out of the house so that I won’t have any reason to live anymore. But later on, I attempted to get a job which wasn’t easy because I tried to resist my feelings.

Now two years later, I have a job, and I’ve been in college for about two years. I haven’t had suicidal thoughts since the day I got accepted into the job. I can say my mental health has gotten a little better, but I’m not completely healed.

I still do feel lonely sometimes because I still lack social skills, and I still spend a lot of my time in the house (and yes, I’m aware that it’s unhealthy to be inside the house all the time) . Sometimes I have small depression episodes. I’m assuming the reason why I get small depressive episodes is because of the lack of dopamine in my brain. I usually get these episodes after eating a large unhealthy meal or just random. Usually, when I feel this way, I tend to feel drowsy and sad. Listening to music is kind of like a dopamine booster to me because sometimes I’ll suddenly feel, happy, energetic, and motivated to do anything which is why I tend to listen to music when I feel sad sometimes.

To this day, I try to avoid thinking about negativity by distracting myself in playing games and watching YouTube, because my symptoms from two years ago would likely return. My symptoms would also likely return when my physical health starts going downhill because of my obesity or when I start living in a house of my own due to loneliness.

Overall, my mental health is a little better than it was before from 2 years ago, but I know I’m not fully healed as I’m still at risk of old symptoms returning.

Hi, my name is lostandalone. I'm looking for people to talk to. Who can at the very least understand what I’m feeling, even when I can’t find the right words to to express those feelings!!!

#MightyTogether #Anxiety #Depression #PTSD #ADHD #Asthma #Obesity

First just let me clarify that English is not my 1st language.
I've been diagnosed with BPD, Major depression and Social Anxiety. I also have high blood pressure and diabetes. It always seems like. I'm craving for something, at this time I'm unemployed so I don't know if this is because I can't find a job, because when I'm working, I'm totally ok with just one meal a day. Does anyone have any advice for me?
Thank you.

All of my adult life I've been embarrassed to wear shorts or dresses above the knees because of my thunder thighs. Well, it's a new day and a new way. It's hot and I'm about to trot.

Hi, my name is beep1974.

#MightyTogether #Anxiety #Migraine #Obesity

The gut is the center of a biomedical revolution. This whole field is disrupting modern medicine.

Autism, Depression, Anxiety, Parkinsons, and Cancer are ALL related to the gut microbiome

Our gut affects our whole body. The gut is the second brain. Our brains have never existed without signals coming from the gut.

70% of our immune system lives in our gut.

You get your first habitable microbes when you are born out of your mother's womb. We shape our gut microbiome based on our experiences. The relationships you have, the pets you have, exercise, stress, the food you eat. Because of this, everyone has different microbiomes. It is a collection of microbial memories.

Knowing the microbiome is the key to health is key because you can't change your genes. BUT you can change your microbes by simple edits to your diet and lifestyle.

The modern-day microbiome is pretty unhealthy and is pushing up to this prevalent rise in chronic conditions such as hypertension, food allergies, diabetes, obesity, etc. The way we think about disease needs to change.

Changes to our environment. Western diet. the way babies are born (c-section), baby formula, sanitation, and antibiotics, all lead to decreased microbiome diversity, Exactly what we see in today's industrialized microbiome.

Currently, in the states, 60% of the calories eaten are ultra-processed and ultrally refined. This strips it of its natural ingredients and adds in a ton of processed sugars and chemicals.

When you look at quote healthy labels, it is hard to depict what is even in it. Most healthy labels are full of sugars and processed chemical components. Because of this, it is very hard to navigate what you should be eating. The food and wellness world is incredibly confusing.

Current recommendations in the United States recommend 28-40g of fiber per day, HOWEVER on average we are only eating 15g at most in the average American diet. The field of microbiome science is realizing we need to be eating access to 50g of fiber per day. If you don't feed your microbes fiber, they start to eat you. If you stop eating dietary fiber, the microbes need to start eating something. If there is no fiber, it will start to eat away at your mucosal gut lining and spread to various parts of your body, causing inflammation all over. Which can lead to many diseases such as IBD or IBS.

If a gut microbiome is very diverse and has a different variety of bacteria, then it can adapt to what life throws at us. A bouquet of possibilities.

#Depression #Anxiety #Autism #AutismSpectrumDisorder

Well I am depressed again. I had a job interview for a full time at the library I work at a few weeks ago and I did not get it. I was heavily depressed during the weekend and it made me self-aware of a lot of things wrong with me. My autism, my obesity, my anxiety, etc. I do not know how to feel anymore. Any advice?