Picky Eaters: An Eating Disorder That Often Goes Unnoticed

Raul, 35, attended his company’s Christmas dinner. When they start serving first courses, you don’t feel a thing. The main course consists of meat and chips, but Raul leaves the meat on the plate untouched. Finally, dessert (various) arrives and our protagonist takes a scoop of ice cream into his mouth.

To sum it up: out of a menu of six or seven courses, Raoul made only half. When asked, he admits that there are foods he doesn’t like or is not used to eating. What’s going on with Raul? This diet? But then he would not have dared either a scoop of ice cream or a potato …

You may have known other people with similar behavior. If we were to interview his parents, they would probably tell us that ever since he was little, he has been “very special” about food. It is possible that their diet consisted mainly of chocolate and potatoes until adolescence or adulthood.

Very limited menu

Raul suffers from a restrictive eating disorder about which little is known so far. Spain also uses the term “selective eater”, which was first included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V) under the English title avoidance/restrictive eating disorder (ARFID).

Those suffering from it are characterized by a specific and strict choice of certain products, guided primarily by their sensory characteristics (color, shape and, especially, texture).

This limit is so exaggerated that there is barely room between 5 and 10 items on the daily menu of the victims. In addition, they have an aversion to the inclusion of various foods, which interferes with the daily life of a patient with this diagnosis.

How is it different from other eating disorders?

It first begins in early childhood and is more common in boys than girls. Its prevalence is in a very wide range, from 1.5% to 23%. Selective feeders remain so into the adult stage, although they tend to disguise this quite well in their less intimate surroundings.

But the main difference from other more well-known disorders (such as anorexia nervosa) is that the decision that regulates the consumption of a particular food does not take into account calories and does not involve concern for one’s own appearance. . And it is this feature that in most cases prevents the detection of a problem.

When a person comes to therapy for an eating disorder, the anxiety usually comes from outside because the person suffering from it doesn’t realize its seriousness. It is the people around them, such as their relatives, who seek help when they notice abnormal eating behavior.

On the other hand, the selective eater can easily go unnoticed, as his behavior is mistakenly attributed to mere taste or whim. This means a delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Causes and consequences

Some studies looking at risk factors for this disorder have linked it to emotional problems, attachment, and anxiety. It has also been found that the child’s temperament (for example, a tendency to impulsivity or hyperactivity) can cause it to occur at an early stage.

More recent work has suggested a genetic predisposition. In particular, this was due to the presence of a different polymorphism in the gene from that found in genetic analysis of other eating disorders.

Other studies have shown that adults diagnosed as picky eaters are more likely to have growth problems, hormonal problems, and nutritional deficiencies.

In terms of psychological consequences, we can compare this disorder to a phobia. Let’s imagine someone who is afraid of the storm; the fear is so acute that during a thunderstorm you cannot leave the house or do business with other people. Sometimes it is enough for you to think that there may be one for your mood to change and anticipatory anxiety to appear. He no longer enjoys things: he just thinks about when the thunder and lightning will strike.

Now let’s imagine that this person lived in a place where there are storms at least three times a day. Well, that’s what it’s like to live with the anxiety of a person with an eating disorder. To avoid discomfort, your natural tendency is to avoid situations in which it might arise. And what does it mean? Victims limit their social contacts.

Thus, the problem of restrictive eating disorder is not only the anxiety caused by the collision with the moment of eating. In addition, it has consequences that can lead to depression or social anxiety, as happens with those who suffer from an eating disorder in general.

What we can do?

Currently, there are various plans to raise awareness and prevent eating disorders. However, the origin and treatment of electoral disorder is not yet well defined. More research and intervention is required to better understand the causes, symptoms, and possible clinical actions when we come across a case such as that of Raul, who did not leave food on his plate on a whim.

Maria J. Garcia-Rubio, Co-Director of the Department of Global Neurology and Social Change at VIU-NED, Member of the Psychology and Quality of Life (PsiCal) Research Group, Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the International University of Valencia, International University of Valencia and Begoña Albalat Peraita, general health psychology, International University of Valencia

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original.