(NewsNation) — It’s one thing for your child to be a picky eater, but it’s another thing for him to refuse to eat foods based on smells, textures, colors or strangeness. And it can lead to serious physical problems.
The condition, which has come to light relatively recently, is called avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Some health professionals also call it ‘selective eating disorder’. Unlike other eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, it is not a mental health problem associated with negative self-image.
ARFID was recently added to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 2013. Health care professionals use the manual to help diagnose mental disorders.
Children with ARFID fall into three general categories:
- Highly selective eaters who react strongly negatively to foods with certain smells, textures or colours. They may also have ‘neophobia’, a fear of unfamiliar foods.
- A general lack of interest in food, a small appetite, or little reward from food.
- Fear of what might happen if they eat, such as pain, choking or vomiting.
The biggest problem that comes from ARFID is poor nutrition. This can lead to many different problems, such as poor growth, delayed puberty, and eventually the need for nutritional supplements or even a feeding tube.
Other complications may include low blood pressure, a slow pulse, dehydration, weakened bones and muscles, and absence of menstruation.
Experts are generally baffled as to the cause. Some believe it is a combination of a child’s temperament, genes and perhaps a triggering event such as choking.
Treatments come in a variety of forms, including the help of a doctor, a dietitian, and a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. The goal is to help a child eat enough to gain weight, increase the variety of foods they eat, and teach them ways to eat without fear of pain or choking.
Doctors tell parents it’s important to be role models when it comes to food. That means expanding the variety of food adults eat. Another strong piece of advice: plan regular meals and snacks, including regular family meals.
They should also encourage children to try new foods, but not force them. Reward positive eating behaviors. Find ways to cope with anxiety and stress, such as yoga, music, and meditation. And above all, stay calm and don’t criticize a child for his or her eating problems.
Although the condition is most common in children, adults can develop ARFID, too. And for now, doctors say there’s no known way to prevent it. But experts do say that ARFID won’t go away without treatment, and it won’t go away overnight.
Information from The Cleveland Clinic and Nemours Kids Health contributed to this story.