Selective eating disorder
Encyclopedia
Selective eating disorder (SED) (also known as fussy eating, picky eating, or perseverative feeding disorder) is an eating disorder
that prevents the consumption of certain foods. It is often viewed as a phase of childhood that is generally overcome with age. Children may not grow out of the disorder, however, and may continue to be afflicted with SED throughout their adult lives. Selective eating disorder lacks formal diagnostic criteria and classification and is not currently listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
.
The British Journal of Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry states that:
The University College London's Institute of Child Health (UK) relates that:
SED is common in young people with autistic spectrum disorders, this is likely caused by Sensory Integration Dysfunction
. It is also found with other special needs adolescents. It is commonly accompanied with severe refusal behaviors when non-preferred foods are presented. SED can be caused by an extra sensitive taste sensation
caused by more Fungiform papilla than average, this is the most common cause of SED. It is also found in people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. People with the Autoimmune disorder Coeliac Disease
are often picky eaters.
This disorder should not be confused with food avoidance emotional disorder (FAED) (a childhood avoidance of food brought about by emotional difficulties and not related to body image) or anorexia nervosa
(a disorder characterized by a fear of food due to issues related to body weight). SED shares similar characteristics with "food neophobia
", an avoidance of the consumption of novel foods.
Resetting patterns of behavior is commonly done using cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Riemann explains, “Exposure also works well. Say a person eats only soup; we’ll put noodles in it and then work our way up to chicken.”
Research is currently under way at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(a psychologist), and a chef.
The TV series Freaky Eaters
on BBC 3 premiered in 2007 which also deals with SED. It follows the daily eating habits and inherent lifestyle difficulties of several SED sufferers.
Eating disorder
Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual's physical and mental health. Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the most common specific...
that prevents the consumption of certain foods. It is often viewed as a phase of childhood that is generally overcome with age. Children may not grow out of the disorder, however, and may continue to be afflicted with SED throughout their adult lives. Selective eating disorder lacks formal diagnostic criteria and classification and is not currently listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is published by the American Psychiatric Association and provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders...
.
The British Journal of Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry states that:
- "Selective eating is the little-studied phenomenon of eating a highly limited range of foods, associated with an unwillingness to try new foods. Common in toddlers, it can persist into middle childhood and adolescence in a small number of children, most commonly boys. When this happens, social avoidance, anxiety and conflict can result."
Symptoms
Sufferers of SED have an inability to eat certain foods based on texture or aroma. "Safe" foods may be limited to certain food types and even specific brands. In some cases, afflicted individuals will exclude whole food groups, such as fruits or vegetables. Sometimes excluded foods can be refused based on color.The University College London's Institute of Child Health (UK) relates that:
- "Typically a child or adolescent with selective eating will be within the normal range for both weight and height, and show no abnormality on physical examination. Sometimes selective eating can come on after a period of normal eating, but for many there may be a history of early feeding difficulties or problem with weaning. Eating a highly restricted range of foods is a common feature of toddlers – up to 20 per cent of children below the age of five years are faddy and the problem persists to the age of eight years in about a third of these. However for some young people the problem persists into middle childhood, adolescence and even adulthood. This can lead to malnutrition, global development delays, problems in growth and weight gain, as well as other health related issues".
SED is common in young people with autistic spectrum disorders, this is likely caused by Sensory Integration Dysfunction
Sensory Integration Dysfunction
Sensory integration dysfunction is a neurological disorder characterized by a neurological sensory integration deficit. The more current diagnostic nosology uses the term sensory processing disorder to describe this condition....
. It is also found with other special needs adolescents. It is commonly accompanied with severe refusal behaviors when non-preferred foods are presented. SED can be caused by an extra sensitive taste sensation
Supertaster
A supertaster is a person who experiences the sense of taste with far greater intensity than average. Women are more likely to be supertasters, as are individuals of Asian and African descent. The cause of this heightened response is currently unknown, although it is thought to be, at least in...
caused by more Fungiform papilla than average, this is the most common cause of SED. It is also found in people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. People with the Autoimmune disorder Coeliac Disease
Coeliac disease
Coeliac disease , is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that occurs in genetically predisposed people of all ages from middle infancy onward...
are often picky eaters.
This disorder should not be confused with food avoidance emotional disorder (FAED) (a childhood avoidance of food brought about by emotional difficulties and not related to body image) or anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Although commonly called "anorexia", that term on its own denotes any symptomatic loss of appetite and is not strictly accurate...
(a disorder characterized by a fear of food due to issues related to body weight). SED shares similar characteristics with "food neophobia
Neophobia
Neophobia is the fear of new things or experiences. It is also called cainotophobia.In psychology, neophobia is defined as the persistent and abnormal fear of anything new. In its milder form, it can manifest as the unwillingness to try new things or break from routine...
", an avoidance of the consumption of novel foods.
Causes, treatment, and research
Dr. Bradley C. Riemann, the clinical director of obsessive compulsive disorders at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee, says: "For the most part it's not trauma or memories that are the problem. It's more about taste, texture, smell and sight. It can stem from an incident. Say you've gagged on meat before, you may develop a fear of choking and become scared of eating anything chewy. It has also been linked to OCD and a fear of dirt and contamination over how the food has been prepared."Resetting patterns of behavior is commonly done using cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Riemann explains, “Exposure also works well. Say a person eats only soup; we’ll put noodles in it and then work our way up to chicken.”
Research is currently under way at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Popular media
In 2007, the UK television series Farm of Fussy Eaters was created to "follow the emotional journey of eight people as they confront their food demons at The Farm of Fussy Eaters. The eight participants all have terrible relationships with food but they're determined to conquer their fears with the help of (the program's) three experts." The expert panel consists of a dietician, Geoffrey BeattieGeoffrey Beattie
Geoffrey Beattie is in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Manchester and is a Professorial Research Fellow in the established at the university in 2008. A Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Beattie was awarded the Spearman Medal by the BPS in 1984...
(a psychologist), and a chef.
The TV series Freaky Eaters
Freaky Eaters
Freaky Eaters is an observational British documentary series produced by independent television production company betty for BBC Three. Series 1 was narrated by the actress Jill Halfpenny and series 2 by Sharon Horgan...
on BBC 3 premiered in 2007 which also deals with SED. It follows the daily eating habits and inherent lifestyle difficulties of several SED sufferers.
External links
- Overview Of Adolescent Picky Eating and Other Feeding Disorders , by the Association of Pediatric Food Refusal
- Other "Eating Disorders", by Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association
- Welcome to the Eating Disorders Team, UCL Institute of Child Health
- "Something fishy about being so fussy", article at Times Online by Lucy McDonald, February 17, 2007
- "The Picky Eater Files", article at the Washington Post by Annie Groer, September 26, 2006