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Selective Eating Disorder is characterized by an inability to eat certain foods or food types. It is a common phase for toddlers and children who try to avoid eating new foods. Children who exhibit symptoms of this disorder are generally called “picky eaters”. Serious problems only arise if the problem persists through childhood into adolescence and adulthood. People with Selective Eating disorder only eat foods that they are used to eating as they are considered to be “safe foods”. Their choice of food may be based on food type, texture or aroma. In severe cases, a person with Selective Eating Disorder may even limit his or her food choice specific brands. This eating disorder generally leads to feelings of conflict and anxiety. An affected individual often prefers partial or total social avoidance.
In most cases the main and only symptom of Selective Eating Disorder is the unwillingness and inability to try new foods. Most people suffering from Selective Eating Disorder have had it since childhood. In some cases, a person may suddenly or gradually get an aversion to a certain type of food.
The causes of Selective Eating Disorder can vary greatly from individual to individual. However, almost all food preferences can be traced back to childhood memories and related preferences. In some cases, a single traumatic incident can trigger this eating disorder. A person who finds a small piece of diet in their salad may start to feel an aversion to salads. They may even eliminate them completely from their diet. A fear of contamination is often linked to this disorder.
The effects of Selective Eating Disorder can be physical, psychological and social. The effects depend largely on the type and severity of this disorder. In most cases, a person can suffer from nutritional problems due to a restricted diet. This in turn can lead to subsequent medical problems and conditions. People on a strict fruit diet are often deficient in certain minerals like calcium which in term increases their risk of osteoporosis, bone spurs and other calcium related disorders.
The main treatment for this eating disorder includes counseling to determine its exact cause and parameters. The patient is then taken through a series of Exposure Situations to bring about a gradual change. In these situations, a person is slowly exposed to other foods. If the patient does not eat anything but soup, a few pieces may first be mashed and added to the soup. This allows the person to become familiar with the taste. The noodles are then cut up into tiny pieces so that the person becomes aware of them but since they are already used to the taste they do not object. In this way, the person may slowly be exposed to new foods. This resetting of patterns of behavior is the most widely used and effective method of treatment for Selective Eating Disorder.
