An Australian influencer has triggered widespread outrage by claiming ADHD has become a "fad" on social media, suggesting bloggers are taking medication designed to manage the condition in order to lose weight.
Megan Leto Marx, a former contestant on The Bachelor Australia, shared her opinion on the condition - which can include limited attention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness - in an Instagram Story on Monday afternoon.
The reality star, who boasts more than 152,000 followers on the platform, began by saying she was "feeling a little bit naughty, a little bit controversial", before asking her fans to submit their "unpopular opinions" for her to comment on.
The first 'unpopular opinion' Marx addressed asked whether she believed ADHD had become a "fad" among influencers on social media.
"Holy shit, I feel like I'm going to get myself into trouble with this one," Marx said.
"I do think that ADHD diagnoses - there's a possibility it could be a little bit of a trend. There's a few things that are interesting to me: there's ADHD as a proper, neuro-developmental, cognitive disorder, right? You can see that with, for example, I think their hippocampus and amygdala might be a little bit smaller in a brain scan.
"And then there's ADHD that could be brought on by some environmental factors - I'm not a scientist, I don't know - but who doesn't have problems concentrating on work? Who doesn't have problems?
"I also wonder about all these influencers that are being diagnosed and medicated for ADHD that have suddenly lost a lot of weight? I think this is interesting because we know that…"
The clip then cuts off and transitions to the next opinion, which is about gender reveals.
Marx also elaborated on her thoughts in a series of bullet points, in which she gave her followers "things to think about" in regards to ADHD diagnoses among influencers.
"Weight loss due to ADHD medication (is this the new influencer drug, overtaking Charlie)," she wrote.
"[It] has become a 'trend' #ADHD," she continued. "Pharmaceutical companies benefiting.
"Interesting to me that so many high-functioning 'influencers' are warking on about how it's changed their lives & driving other people who feel shitty to try to get medicated too (so many other disorders / issues it could be) [sic].
"I do believe this addictive medication has problematic use & is being advertised as an easy fix/ easy out," she continued.
"We need to address as a society why we aren't 'concentrating'."
The clip was quickly picked up by influencer 'watchdog' accounts, including @influencer.updates.au, who screenshotted Marx's Story and shared it with their almost 40,000 followers on Monday evening.
"Unpopular opinions with @megan.leto.marx. Do you agree?" the account captioned the screengrabs.
The post quickly prompted widespread outrage, particularly among people who live with ADHD.
Australian radio presenter and TV personality Abbie Chatfield, who has been diagnosed with the disorder, was among those to slam Marx.
"Lol angriest I've been in a long time," said Chatfield.
Another weighed in: "Twelve months of waitlists, jumping through hoops & $2900 to be diagnosed. Yep. ADHD (particularly in women) is totally just a trend. The medication hasn't absolutely changed my life at all. Nor has the diagnosis made my entire life make sense & allowed me to stop masking & become authentically me.
"Educate yourself more on ADHD before commenting though @megan.leto.marx you are better than this."
"If she could address the other symptoms of my ADHD, that would be fab... such as: sensory overload from bright lights and noises, paralysis, low self-esteem, low sense of self, low self-worth, mood swings, anger, disappointment in myself, losing so many belongings that I cry when I can't find them, crying over becoming overwhelmed, forgetting things, [so] hyper-focused I forget to eat, inattentive to things that bore me which leads to self destructive habits, no sleep, restless sleep, forgetting to eat/can't be bothered to eat because my food is boring, forgetting I locked the door so heading back three times to check it because I feel I haven't, impulsivity with communication/coming across rude and cold, relationships breaking down, writing notes saying I have fed the cats, and... concentration," a third shared.
"This is my life and having someone diminish the chaos that lives in my head is just gross."
"ADHD meds, the easy way out? Tell that to my bank account. It's SOOOO easy running back and forth from your GP, chasing referrals, attending assessments, getting ECG's, bloodwork, regular reviews, drug tests, psych appointments, being told Medicare has changed requirements a few days before your next review, having to again chase ANOTHER referral... the easy way out eh?" a fourth added.
"As for addictive - go educate yourself. When correctly diagnosed, medicated and monitored - the risks are incredibly low. GOOD GRIEF. The arrogance is nauseating."
In a post to her Instagram Story on Tuesday morning, Marx addressed the backlash by saying she too has been diagnosed with the condition and is currently taking medication for it.
"It's literally changed my life for the better. So I understand the process very well," she wrote.
"I am (quite obviously) not saying that people are taking meds to lose weight. That's ridiculous. I'm saying that there are side effects not being discussed. And that a diagnosis should be taken more seriously."
Newshub has reached out to Marx for comment.
