What You Need To Know About Selective Eating Disorder

Have you ever known someone who was a picky eater? Perhaps they had an aversion to (certain) vegetables or condiments. While the thought of a Greek salad may bring joy to one's heart, the picky eater may cringe at the thought of so many strong tasting ingredients. Many children are picky eaters, but what if they do not grow out of this habit of only eating certain favourite foods and refusing even to try other foods? Well, they may be suffering from something that is called Selective Eating Disorder or SED.

WHAT IS SELECTIVE EATING DISORDER?

Selective Eating Disorder, as the name implies, is an eating disorder characterised by being extremely picky in eating habits. This may be to the point of causing anxiety or sickness at the thought of having to eat an undesired food. This condition can affect people of all ages, although people generally develop this disorder as children.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SELECTIVE EATING DISORDER?

A person suffering from Selective Eating Disorder may display very strange eating habits, perhaps preferring to eat the same food every day. This eating disorder is unlike others, such as bulimia and anorexia, because the selection of food has nothing to do with calorie content and is based solely on taste, texture, familiarity or even colour. Some Selective Eating Disorder sufferers tend to favour bland foods over flavourful ones. It has even been suggested that these people may have more or over-sensitive taste buds that make them particularly reactive to the slightest of tastes. They may prefer to eat their foods without even the basic seasoning such as salt and pepper. And for many, condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, and barbecue sauce are out of the question.

SELECTIVE EATING DISORDER CAN LEAD TO ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOURS & MALNUTRITION

People suffering from Selective Eating Disorder may have a phobia of eating at a new restaurant, particularly one that serves foreign food. They may also agonise over an invitation to eat at someone's house for fear that they will be served unfamiliar or undesirable food. Because of this, they may not accept social invitations. In circumstances such as these, Selective Eating Disorder might even overlap into a social anxiety disorder. Also, because Selective Eating Disorder patients may only eat one type of food, such as chicken nuggets, pizza, French fries, or plain pasta, this condition presents a substantial nutrition problem. The human body is designed to benefit from the nutrients that come from a variety of foods- fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and fats. Consuming the same food day after day can lead to malnutrition, no matter what type of food it is.

If you or someone you know displays the symptoms of Selective Eating Disorder, you may want to consult with an eating disorder therapist to treat this disorder.

Eating disorders are a very serious problem, and those suffering from them need to get the proper treatment in order to be able to resume leading normal, healthy lives as soon as possible.