Autism and Eating Disorders: Understanding the Overlap
It’s becoming increasingly clear that eating disorders don’t look the same for everyone – and that’s especially true for neurodivergent individuals. As a dietitian who specialises in eating disorder recovery, I see many clients with Autism who’ve struggled with disordered eating for years before anyone realised what was really going on.
Understanding the relationship between Autism and eating disorders can help us offer more compassionate, effective, and neuro-affirming care. Let’s explore how they’re connected – and how recovery is absolutely possible with the right support.
Autism and Eating Disorder Prevalence
Research shows that individuals with Autism are significantly more likely to develop eating disorders. In fact, it's estimated that:
20–35% of people with eating disorders meet the criteria for Autism, even if they’ve never been formally diagnosed (Westwood & Tchanturia, 2017; Kinnaird et al., 2019).
People with Autism are particularly at risk of Anorexia Nervosa, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and binge eating behaviours (Brady et al., 2019).
This overlap often goes unrecognised, especially in women and marginalised gender groups, who may mask their Autism traits or be misdiagnosed for years.
Sensory Preferences and ARFID
One of the key areas where Autism and eating intersect is sensory sensitivity. Many Autistic people experience strong preferences (or aversions) when it comes to textures, smells, tastes, and even the appearance of food.
For some, these sensory challenges lead to extremely selective eating – not out of pickiness or control, but because certain foods genuinely feel overwhelming or intolerable.
This is often linked to ARFID, a type of eating disorder that involves avoidance or restriction of food without the body image concerns typical of disorders like Anorexia. For Autistic individuals, ARFID can stem from:
Texture aversions (e.g., mushy or crunchy foods)
Rigid food preferences (e.g., only eating white or beige foods)
Fear of choking or vomiting
Difficulty trying new foods due to unfamiliar sensations
It’s important to approach these eating patterns with understanding, not judgment.
Low Interoceptive Awareness
Many Autistic people also experience low interoceptive awareness – which means they struggle to interpret internal body signals like hunger, fullness, or thirst.
This can lead to:
Skipping meals without realising it
Confusing hunger with anxiety or fatigue
Overeating because fullness cues aren’t recognised until it’s uncomfortable
Helping clients improve their awareness of body signals is a gentle, long-term process, and one that looks different for everyone.
Sensory Regulation and Binge Eating
Food can become a way of regulating sensory input and emotional states. For some Autistic individuals, binge eating may develop as a way to:
Soothe sensory overwhelm
Provide predictable sensory input (e.g., crunching or chewing)
Cope with emotional stress or shutdowns
This isn’t about a “lack of willpower” – it’s about unmet sensory and emotional needs. That’s why understanding the whybehind the behaviour is so crucial.
Black and White Thinking, Routines, and Rituals
Autistic thinking often leans towards black-and-white (or all-or-nothing) thinking, which can show up in food rules like:
“I must eat perfectly clean, or I’ve failed.”
“If I eat one ‘bad’ food, I might as well give up for the day.”
“I can only eat at this specific time or place.”
Routines and rituals can also feel very comforting, especially in a world that often feels chaotic or overwhelming. But when food becomes the only safe routine, it can become rigid and hard to shift – leading to disordered eating patterns that feel impossible to break.
Alexithymia and Coping Mechanisms
Alexithymia – difficulty identifying and expressing emotions – is common in Autism, and can make emotional regulation extra challenging.
In this context, eating disorders may develop as a coping mechanism – a way to feel in control, numb uncomfortable emotions, or communicate distress non-verbally.
Understanding this connection is key to supporting recovery. It’s not just about changing behaviours – it’s about building emotional awareness, too.
So, What Does Recovery Look Like?
Recovery for Autistic individuals with eating disorders often looks different – and that’s okay.
A few important aspects of neuro-affirming recovery include:
Validating sensory needs rather than trying to force change
Building flexible routines around eating that feel safe but not rigid
Supporting emotional literacy and interoceptive awareness
Collaborating with Autistic clients rather than imposing traditional treatment models
At The Nourish Club, we deeply understand the importance of neuro-affirming care. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all recovery. Instead, we work alongside our clients to create safety, trust, and sustainable change that respects their neurodivergent identity.
If you're Autistic (or think you might be) and struggling with food – please know you're not alone. Healing is possible, and it doesn’t have to mean changing who you are.
Want support that actually gets your brain? Learn more about working with us at The Nourish Club.