The Metabolic Classroom with Dr. Ben Bikman

How ADHD Medications Affect Fat Burning, Insulin & Brain Health

Jan 31, 2025

Delve into the metabolic effects of ADHD medications and their dual role in enhancing focus and altering appetite. Stimulants like Adderall can boost dopamine but may lead to binge eating once they wear off. Non-stimulant options behave differently, with some medications improving insulin sensitivity while others risk weight gain. Explore ADHD's potential metabolic roots and how modern diets may exacerbate symptoms. Discover the promise of ketones as an alternative brain fuel, offering a new pathway to stabilize brain function.

28:26

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Quick takeaways

Stimulant ADHD medications can suppress appetite, causing potential weight loss and binge-eating episodes as their effects wear off.

ADHD may have metabolic roots, with brain glucose metabolism impairments suggesting dietary choices like ketogenic diets could offer stability.

Deep dives

Prevalence and Treatment of ADHD

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 5 to 10% of children and approximately half of that percentage in adults. The growing awareness of this condition has led to an increased search for effective treatments, resulting in widespread use of both stimulant and non-stimulant medications. Stimulants, including amphetamine-based drugs like Adderall and methylphenidate-based drugs like Ritalin, work primarily by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain, thus helping to regulate attention and focus. However, it is important to note that while these medications have therapeutic benefits, they can also lead to various metabolic side effects, particularly concerning appetite and weight changes, which demand careful consideration among users, especially children.

Impact of ADHD Medications on Metabolism and Brain Function

2min

Exploring the Metabolic Impact of ADHD Medications

32min

Learn more about becoming an Insider: https://www.benbikman.com

In this week’s episode of the Metabolic Classroom lectures, Dr. Ben Bikman explores the metabolic impact of ADHD medications and whether ADHD itself has metabolic roots.

Ben explains how stimulant medications (like Adderall and Ritalin) primarily work by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine, enhancing focus but also suppressing appetite and stimulating fat breakdown. This can lead to weight loss but may also contribute to binge eating episodes when the medication wears off. Non-stimulant ADHD medications (like Atomoxetine and Guanfacine) affect metabolism in different ways—some subtly improve insulin sensitivity, while others reduce fat breakdown, potentially leading to weight gain.

Beyond medication, Dr. Bikman discusses ADHD as a possible metabolic disorder. Studies show that individuals with ADHD often have reduced glucose metabolism in the prefrontal cortex, the brain region responsible for attention and impulse control. He highlights research linking chronic sugar consumption to dopamine imbalances and brain energy instability, suggesting that modern dietary habits may be worsening ADHD symptoms.

One potential solution? Ketones as an alternative brain fuel. Dr. Bikman shares research on the ketogenic diet as a therapy for ADHD, similar to its use in epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. By shifting the brain’s energy source from glucose to ketones, individuals may experience more stable brain function and improved focus. He concludes that ADHD may not just be a neurological condition—it could also be a metabolic issue, and targeting brain metabolism may offer new treatment possibilities.

Show Notes/References:

For complete show notes and references referred to in this episode, we invite you to become a Ben Bikman Insider subscriber. As a subscriber, you’ll enjoy real-time, livestream Metabolic Classroom access which includes live Q&A with Ben, ad-free Metabolic Classroom Podcast episodes, show notes and references, Ben’s Research Reviews Podcast, and a searchable archive that includes all Metabolic Classroom episodes and Research Reviews. Learn more about becoming an Insider on our website: https://www.benbikman.com

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